American Game 83 



abundant, and woodchuck are increasing ; opossum 

 are common ; mink are on the increase. 



While duck, geese, and brant are still abundant as 

 compared with some other parts of the country, yet 

 the state commissioners report that they are decreasing 

 in numbers. These birds begin to wend their way south 

 on the approach of cold weather in the autumn. Dur- 

 ing mild winters these migrations do not extend very 

 far south, but when severe winters come the Gulf coast 

 is their winter quarters. Nearly all the shoal-water 

 species of duck to be found in the United States pass 

 through the state in autumn and return in the spring 

 on their way to their breeding-grounds in British 

 America ; the wood-duck remains. 



The most common duck are mallard, blue- and 

 green-winged teal, pintail, widgeon, and whistlers ; red- 

 heads are killed in good numbers ; canvasbacks are 

 occasionally killed. 



The Canada goose, is the most common of its family; 

 there are brant, and some white-fronted geese and 

 snowy geese. 



The sloughs of Illinois are very attractive to snipe, 

 and fine shooting may be secured in the season. 



The ruffed grouse is found in fair numbers through- 

 out the state, holding its own very well. 



Woodcock are not especially abundant, though in 

 some favored places good bags are secured each year. 



Quail are said to have been increasing for the past 

 three years. Pinnated grouse or prairie-hen, it was 

 thought by most sportsmen, were decreasing rapidly, 

 but State Game Warden Blow reports that these birds 

 are now increasing, and that in April, 1897, they were 



