VIII 



THE PRAIRIE-GROUSE 



THE common-grouse, known as the prairie-hen or 

 chicken, and the sharp-tailed grouse, are simi- 

 lar birds but easily distinguished. The former in- 

 habits the prairies and the latter the plains. They are 

 associated where the prairies and the so-called great 

 plains of the Northwest blend. The prairie bird was 

 formerly found from the Eastern States to the plains, and 

 was abundant in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, but few, 

 if any, remain in Ohio and the bird is nowhere as 

 abundant as it was a few years ago. It is probably 

 more abundant to-day in Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, 

 Iowa, and parts of Illinois than elsewhere, and is ex- 

 tending its range toward the Northwest. The prairie- 

 grouse is a reddish-brown bird with dark brown 

 stripes running crosswise. The sharp-tailed grouse 

 is much lighter in color, being almost white under- 

 neath and the markings are lengthwise. The sharp- 

 tailed grouse is easily distinguished by the sharp tail 

 and white spots on the wings. 



The prairie-grouse live only in the open country, 

 preferring prairies of vast extent. As they are culti- 

 vated the grouse remain and feed in the stubbles and 

 corn, and the vast corn-fields in the prairie States have 

 done much toward their preservation. When it was the 

 fashion everywhere to shoot these birds in the sum- 



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