12 FEATHERED GAME 



main those of the western representative, with 

 such variations as may result from its differ- 

 ent surroundings, such as a greater fondness 

 for brushy covers than has its brother of the 

 prairies. For safety 's sake, and no doubt see- 

 ing the advantages which such a country af- 

 fords, it has become almost as much of a woods 

 bird as the ruffed grouse. It is probable that 

 the bird of the eastern section was always more 

 of a forest dweller than a citizen of the open. 



The courting habits of the Heath Hen are 

 probably the same as those of the western race, 

 the males performing the same booming sere- 

 nade at sunrise, and it is natural to suppose 

 that they dance and fight as enthusiastically in 

 the mating season as is the custom of the typ- 

 ical bird of the plains. 



The western bird has been more fortunate 

 than our own. With their enormous wheat 

 fields to fatten upon the Chickens might have 

 thriven wonderfully, and had it not been for the 

 market shooter and the slaughterer for count 

 they might have outlasted any game bird of the 

 continent; but ever the army of sportsmen 

 gains new recruits, and each year sees a greater 

 drain upon a diminishing supply. Newer 



