152 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



FEEDING AND ROOSTING. 



Prairie Hens resort to their feeding-ground at a very early 

 hour of the day, and retire towards noon to preen and dust 

 themselves in the ploughed fields or along the roads, and do 

 not come out again till late in the afternoon. 



They do not, as a general thing, roost on trees, but, like the 

 Partridge, they select a little eminence of ground in the open 

 field, and squat about within a few feet of each other ; at all 

 events, such is their habit during a greater portion of the year. 



When the several broods have united and formed 7;acZ;s, they 

 are said to resort to the trees and fences to roost, which habit 

 they continue till the following season of pairing. 



TIME FOR SHOOTING. 



The Pot Hunter, or those who shoot for the markets, hunt 

 these Birds long before the broods are well grown, the real 

 Sportsman, however, does not think of going after them before 

 the middle of August, when the young Birds are so well grown 

 that it is even difficult to tell them from the old ones, save by 

 their bills and feet. 



The various broods remain separate and distinct till the lat- 

 ter part of September, or early in October, when they unite 

 together forming packs, in many instances containing several 

 hundred. 



As observed, under the following heading, Prairie Hens are 

 not much esteemed during the winter months, and consequently 

 are not generally sought after by the Epicurean Sportsmen, 

 who deem it but just and right that all our game should be 

 killed alone at those periods when it is in its best condition. 



THEIR FLESH. 



The comparative merits of the meat of these two varieties of 

 Grouse, are often a subject of discussion among Sportsmen and 

 Epicures, whose opinions are often entirely at variance. "We 

 know very well that the tastes of people are much influenced 



