536 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



This valuable bird appears now to be increasing in numbers 

 in the Maxinkuckee region. With proper protection it will soon 

 become abundant. 



Public sentiment in this region needs educating. Every vio- 

 lator of the game law should be prosecuted whether he be a tran- 

 sient visitor or local business man or town official. 



55. RUFFED GROUSE; PHEASANT 



BONASA UMBELLUS (Linnreus) 



This is now a rare bird about Maxinkuckee, 



Our definite records are as follows: 



1899. — October 12, two seen on Long Point. November 7, one 

 shot; 15th and 27th, one seen. December 2, three seen; 20th and 

 22d, two got. 



1900. — November 10, one shot in a swamp thicket in held be- 

 tween Murray's and Farrar's; 15th, one shot; 25th, one seen in 

 tamarack swamp. December 18, two seen, one got; 28th, one got. 



1901. — January 1, one hunter got three. April 7, one seen 

 among dead leaves at swamp south of Farrar's; 11th, one heard 

 drumming east of lake. December 30, noted; 31st, Mr. Chadwick 

 saw 10 to 12. 



1902. — January 2, Mr. Chadwick saw 2 near Mud Lake; 15th, 

 four seen; 22d, eight to 10 seen. 



1904. — October 4, one Hushed at tamarack swamp ; one seen on 

 Long Point. 



1906. — September 17, one seen south of lake. October 7, heard 

 one drumming near tamarack swamp, where one was flushed later; 

 one heard drumming in Culver's woods on east side; 13th, one 

 seen in Hawk's marsh ; 14th, one heard drumming on east side ; 

 16th, one flushed in Farrar's woods; 31st, one seen on east side. 

 November 14th, one seen south of lake; 17th, one seen south of 

 lake. 



1907.— August 15, Prof. W. S. Blatchley saw one in Walley's 

 woods, dusting. October 5, one seen in Farrar's woods. Novem- 

 ber 15, one got south of lake. 



The Ruff'ed Grouse, or Pheasant as it is usually called in Indi- 

 ana, was at one time an abundant bird in this part of the State. 

 The heavy woods, tamarack swamps, and thickets occupying the 

 old kettle holes, furnished a peculiarly favorable environment, and 

 in such situations will it be found today, if at all. When our ob- 

 servations at the lake began in 1899, pheasants were much more 



