114 Game Survey of the North Central States 



be found before the percentage of success can be greatly increased. It is un- 

 thinkable that the present investment of $100,000 per year can continue to be 

 made in the dark. 



CHARACTER OF POPULATIONS 



Pheasant Census and Kill. It is more difficult to make a census of 

 pheasants than of any other American upland species. Of all our upland species, 

 pheasants are the least given to coveying. Of all our upland species, pheasants 

 are the most given to taking refuge in impenetrable swamp cover, to running 

 instead of flushing, and to forming temporary concentrations. Moreover, their 

 cruising radius appears to be greater than that of any other gallinaceous bird except 

 pinnated and sharptail grouse. Census figures for other species are scarce enough, 

 but for pheasants they are as yet nearly non-existent. 



Table 23 gives the best samples I could find of estimated populations and 

 kills, on large and small units of range respectively. The small units undoubtedly 

 represent temporary concentrations. If we interpret these estimates in the light 

 of similar data for quail, and the general ratio between temporary and permanent 

 population densities known to exist in quail, and the kill ratio possible in quail, 

 it seems probable that pheasants are subject to approximately the same saturation 

 point as quail, namely about one bird per acre. This saturation point is often 

 obscured by temporary seasonal concentrations, but it is nevertheless believed to 

 hold good for wild populations on large units of range throughout the north 

 central region. 



As in quail, the saturation point is not often attained, due no doubt to the 

 more or less unfavorable environment offered by the average range. 



Hungarian Populations. It is almost as easy to make a census of Hun- 

 garians as of quail. The coveys vary more in size, and are a little more mobile, 

 but otherwise the two species are equally easy to count in relation to a given area. 



Table 24 gives the census data secured during the survey, and also data 

 gathered by R. E. Yeatter, Institute Fellow studying Hungarians at the University 

 of Michigan. These figures are of exactly the same kind as the census data on 

 quail shown on Map 6, only the quail figures were too voluminous to show in 

 tables, while the Hungarian figures are not sufficiently voluminous to justify a 

 map. 



When the American figures in Table 24 are summarized in comparison with 

 Map 6 for quail, the frequency of the various density-classes appears as follows 

 (in both birds the lesser densities are undoubtedly under-represented, especially 

 in Hungarians) : 



Density class Hungarians Density class Hungarians 



Acres per bird (all States) Quail Acres per bird (all States) Quail 



0.5-1 . 2 20 8-16 7 54 



1-2 4 58 16-32 40 



2-4 6 83 Over 32 2 30 



4-8 . _ 10 83 



