THE HEATH HEN 255 



quote Brewster's opinion that the bird is in no 

 present danger of extinction. According to recent 

 calculations, there is on an average from three to 

 five Heath Hens to each square mile of ground 

 occupied. 



The Heath Hen differs considerably in its habits 

 from its near relative the Prairie Hen. The latter 

 bird is fond of open country, but the present bird 

 is only found in woods. Its favourite haunts are 

 oak scrubs ; and here it chiefly subsists on acorns 

 and berries, wandering occasionally to the outlying 

 fields to feed on grain and the leaves of clover, etc. 

 The nest is placed in the oak woods, generally at 

 the base of some large stump, and is a mere hollow 

 lined with leaves and scraps of dry grass. The 

 twelve or thirteen eggs are creamy buff, slightly 

 tinged with green, and unspotted. It is not 

 known that more than one brood is reared in the 

 season. 



According to Brewster, the Heath Hen is on an 

 average a pound less in weight than the Prairie 

 Hen, but closely resembles that bird in appearance. 

 The females are practically similar in colour, but 

 the males have the feathers of the neck tufts fewer 

 in number, and the longest ones lanceolate in 

 shape. 



