The Prairie- Hen 157 



markings on head and upper parts. Range — Prairies of Mis- 

 sissippi. Valley from Manitoba to Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio, 

 west to the Dakotas, Kansas, and Indian Territory, south to 

 Louisiana and Texas. 



Of all the grouse family, this bird — the "chicken" 

 of shooting lore — probably yields the most com- 

 plete satisfaction to the great army of American 

 sportsmen. Its greatest rival is the famed red 

 bird of the moors over sea, but if the question of 

 all-round merit were left to popular vote, beyond 

 all doubt the " chicken " would poll an overwhelm- 

 ing majority. Nor is this to be wondered at, for 

 unquestionably it is the bird of the people. 



Were the cleverest sportsman who ever lived 

 to undertake the designing of a bird of habitat 

 and habits to suit the wishes of perhaps three- 

 fourths of the gunners of this country, the result 

 of his labor surely would be something very like 

 a chicken. Let us glance at its qualifications : 

 it is of good size, carrying plenty of wholesome 

 and excellent meat ; its appearance is pleasing ; 

 it is vigorous and prolific ; it is a useful friend to 

 the farmer ; and it loves a region of pure air and 

 pleasant sunshine, wherein an overworked man 

 may find a cure-all for his mental worry and re- 

 sultant ills ; its ranges may be reached in comfort 

 and traversed with pleasure ; it behaves well be- 

 fore dogs ; it gives the gun a fair, open chance, 

 seldom being found in anything like really diffi- 



