93 



skunks, weasels, and hawks, and the difficuhies the hen must 

 meet in saving her eggs from the ravages of cows, snakes, and 

 squirrels (to say nothing of the farmer's plow), and you need 

 not think it strange that the prairie hen has been unable to 

 hold its own. No more do we see those great flocks, number- 

 ing in the hundreds, sailing rapidly over the fields to their feed- 

 ing grounds. Only little bands scattered here and there are 

 left of that vast army of birds so conspicuous in the early set- 

 tlement days. They have been rapidly disappearing of late 

 years, and it seemed for a time that their days were surely num- 

 bered. 



Fortunately, however, the legislature of Illinois became suf- 

 ficiently alarmed to pass a law protecting this bird for a period 

 of years, giving it in this state at least a new lease of life. 

 The next few years will determine whether or not the prairie 

 chicken is doomed to destruction. If the clause be not renewed. 

 this pioneer bird will pass into' history. A renewal of the law 

 at its expiration July 1, 1911, for an additional five years will 

 give him another chance in the great battle of the survival of 

 the fittest. 



If the prairie chicken is a native of your locality, you will 

 know it about the last week in February.. It is then you may 

 hear the loud drumming noise made by the male at the first 

 signs of opening spring, and be enabled to number and locate 

 each flock in the vicinity. If you have never seen the male 

 at his drumming, you have missed a novelty indeed. On either 

 side of his neck is a large yellow spot devoid of feathers. The 

 skin is quite loose and very elastic and capable of being blown 

 up like a small rubber balloon. As the cock struts to and fro, 

 displaying his many charms before a bevy of admiring females, 

 these wind-bags are distended tO' the size of oranges. 



With his head swaying back and forth near the ground, the 

 drumming noise is made by expelling the collected air through 

 the mouth. Beginning about four o'clock in the morning, the 

 cocks drum with marked regularity until six or after. On still 

 mornings they may be heard at a distance of three or four 

 miles. 



