Plate LXIII. 



Fig. 3. GUPIDONIA GUP/DO -Prairie Hen. 



The Prairie Hen, or Pinnated Grouse, like the Wild Turkey, is almost exterminated. In the early 

 settlement of Ohio it was by no means a rare resident in the neighborhood of Sancluskv, and even to-clav 

 a few still remain in the most unfrequented stretches of prairie land. Dr. Wheaton, writing of this 

 species, says, page 4-16, Vol. IV, "Geological Survey of Ohio:" "Rare resident in Northwestern and 

 Central Ohio. Probably breeds. ... A male Pinnated Grouse was killed by a gunner seven miles 

 west of Columbus, November 16th, 1878. By the kindness of Mr. A. B. Stevenson, who purchased .the 

 bird, the skin is now in my collection. As long ago as 1838, Dr. Kirtland wrote: 'The Prairie Hen is 

 found in considerable numbers in the northwestern parts of the State.' It is now very rare, though a 

 few remain in the vicinity of Toledo, and in Erie, Ottawa, Crawford, and Marion counties. ... I 

 learn that they also remain in- Wyandot county, and in the vicinity of Venice, Sandusky county, though 

 in very limited numbers ; and perhaps on less reliable authority that they have been seen in Fairfield and 

 Pickaway counties. It seems not impossible that they may be now on the increase after having once 

 been nearly exterminated or driven from the State." 



Having never found the nest of this Grouse, and having no record of its time of nesting in Ohio, nor 

 any particulars in regard to its breeding habits, I have been compelled to compile the following from 

 observations made in the Western States, where these birds are still quite plentiful. The nest is built 

 the last of April or the first of May; but one brood being generally reared by a single pair during the 

 season. 



LOCALITY: 



Tall grass in open prairie is usually selected for the site of the nest. 



POSITION: 



It is carelessly placed upon the ground or upon the dead vegetation covering the site, either in a 

 tuft of grass or at the foot of a small bush. 



MATERIALS: 



Dried grasses, leaves, and straws interwoven and matted together compose the bulk of the nest. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs varies from eight to twelve. They measure from 1.65 to 1.75 in long-diameter, 

 and from 1.20 to 1.30 in short-diameter. The ground-color of shell varies from a light clay-color to a 

 rather dark, brownish olive-green; some eggs are almost unmarked, others are uniformally speckled, more 

 or less plentifully with brown. They are said to be incubated in twenty days. 



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