OUTDOORS 



often rimmed with ice, and more especially in 

 the early morning. Then the sun comes up 

 redly enough, a burning disk that lights the 

 by-ways and ridges of the bare, brown fields. 



When prairie-chickens are seen it is usually 

 early or quite late, skirmishing in spots where 

 cornstalks have been left standing, and rising 

 with a splendidly strong sweep of pinion as 

 they spring from the ground. They " pack " 

 now, bunching together in the open meadows 

 and pastures, and being exceedingly wary of 

 man. They are hardy and fearless of the 

 approaching inclemencies of the season, for 

 when storms blow up they will seek the timber 

 and thickets, and shelter themselves from 

 drifting snow and biting winds. 



In the little " slues " that extend through 

 the fields the sumach-stalks are blackened and 

 denuded of their leaves, and thistle-stalks 

 cluster in gray masses on the sides and slopes 

 of ravines. The cover in these places 

 blackberry vines and a tangle of low brush 

 extends thickly along the edges of the 

 " slues," affording splendid hiding-places for 

 quail. Sometimes there is a clump of wil- 

 lows where the " slue " widens, and farther 

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