38 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE. [Vol. I. 



yellow skin extended to the utmost. The wings are quickly shaken, and 

 the orange neck sacks are inflated. Then comes the resonant "coo, hoo, 

 hoo," rising and in the same tones as do, re, me, of our musical scale. 

 This sound carries a long distance on the still morning air. Later, near 

 Okee, we heard it clearly over water for two miles. 



When actually fighting the cocks sometimes jumped clear over each 

 other, dislodging many feathers. In the excitement of the rapid rushes, 

 cooing and comhat of a pair of these males, others may gather till seven 

 or eight are closely assembled. Such a scene will be shown in our group. 



We found it difficult to collect specimens on this open ground, some 

 being obtained at long range with Ochsner's fine target rifle with tele- 

 scope sight, and others secured with the shot gun after long, difficult 

 stalking through the sandburrs and dew-laden grass. But the most ex- 

 acting part of the work was the securing of data on their positions, ac- 

 tions, and habits, notes being jotted down on the spot, after watching 

 them with the binoculars. 



The region where this material was collected had all the appearance 

 of a western prairie. Western JNIeadowlarks filled the air with their 

 music, and Lapland Longspurs circled restlessly from hill to hill. To 

 complete the picture, we, on one morning, jumped two Jack Rabbits, 

 survivors or descendants of some introduced many years l)efore, and 

 thought to have l^een long since exterminated. 



Three fine specimens of Smith's Longspurs, rare l)irds in Wisconsin, 

 were also collected nearby. 



Between visits to the Cormorant colony and the Prairie Chickens, an 

 attempt was made to collect some Canada Geese. It was almost too late, 

 however, as most of them had already left for the north. But three small 

 flocks were still frequenting the prairie and one of our experiences with 

 these was so exceptional that it may be worth recounting. Daylight one 

 morning in April, found Ochsner and myself concealed in rebuilt corn 

 shocks in a field the geese were frequenting regularly. Soon a flock of 

 aliout twenty alighted a short distance in front of my location, followed 

 in a few minutes l)y about forty that came in with much fla])i)ing and 

 argument directly behind me. My part of the field, which included a 

 prominent knoll was favored this morning and I could soon hear them 

 coming and talking in hoarse undertones as they fed on corn torn from 

 the shocks. They were not only coming, they were here. I scarcely 

 Ijreathed as they commenced pulling at the rear of the shock in which I 

 was concealed. One actually came around and peered in, then shyed off 

 slightly as it almost stepped on the end of my gun liarrel. Two fine 



