PINNATED GROUSE 231 



obvious that this means will lessen the loss resulting 

 from the destruction of nests, eggs and young birds 

 by natural enemies, whether mammals or birds. They 

 believe that the expenditure involved would be prac- 

 tically that incidental to ordinary poultry raising, ex- 

 cept that on account of the hardiness and vigor of the 

 grouse it would need little or no winter shelter. 



The commissioners, in their report for the year 1907, 

 report contributions from private individuals of not 

 less than $2,420 for the purpose of preserving these 

 birds. Of this sum, the town of Tisbury and the Mid- 

 dlesex Sportsmen's Association made the largest con- 

 tributions of $200 each, but there are a large number 

 of subscribers, and the list ought to be largely added 

 to, since every sportsman and every naturalist in the 

 land should be ambitious to have some share in the 

 good work of re-establishing this splendid bird. 



THE PRAIRIE HEN. 



This is the form of pinnated grouse that has been 

 known to sportsmen. Its range was chiefly in the 

 Mississippi Valley, including Minnesota, Michigan, 

 western Ohio, Kentucky, but perhaps not Tennessee, 

 though it was found in Louisiana, southern Texas, 

 Indian Territory, Kansas, Nebraska and the eastern 

 parts of both Dakotas. It is now found in Manitoba, 

 southeastern Saskatchewan, to eastern Colorado, north- 

 eastern Texas, Arkansas, western Kentucky and In- 

 diana and intermediate regions, where it was at one 



