ERRATIC HABITS OF PRAIRIE FOWL. ] 89 



the familiar call of Bob White will soon entirely 

 supplant the deep, musical, but strange booing of the 

 prairie fowl east of the Mississippi. 



To get sport now-a-days, the ultimate western edge 

 of Indiana and the State of Illinois, for the eastern, 

 sportsman, are undoubtedly the nearest points; but 

 even after having travelled thus far, if you desire 

 results commensurate with your trouble, rest not near 

 the track of the iron horse, but pursue, to the right or 

 left, your course till you find people who still talk of 

 the cars* as seven-day wonders, and report as a marvel, 

 that one still night, a month ago, Hans or Jaques 

 heard them whistle. When such originals have been 

 found, if heavy bags are desired, till then, and not till 

 then, call a halt. 



The prairie fowl are very erratic in their habits, 

 and the situations in which they abound one season 

 may be almost entirely deserted the next. It has often 

 puzzled me to account for this strange uncertainty in 

 their choice, and I have thus far failed to satisfy my 

 mind, unless the burning of the grass, or inundations, 

 to which the western country is particularly subject, 

 can be accepted as a reason. A few years ago a low 

 prairie close to my dwelling was most amply stocked 

 with prairie fowl, so much so that I used to limit my 

 bag to one dozen and seldom did it take more than 

 an hour to obtain this number. Next year, on the 

 same land, not one solitary bird was to be found. 

 Now, this prairie had not been burnt, although others 

 in the vicinity had undergone the operation. Early in 

 the season, before the young have attained maturity, 

 and ere the cold and boisterous winds of autumn have 



* Railroads. 



