around, the parent bird undergoes a 

 complete revolution, so far as fear is con- 

 cerned. She loses every semblance of 

 her native, instinctive wildness, and is as 

 tame as the ordinary domestic hen. 



One may approach to within a few 

 feet of her rude, ground nest without 

 the bird moving. If you get too close, 

 the bird will very reluctantly vacate the 

 nest'. Then she will go only a few yards 

 away, and, if the intruder withdraws a 

 little distance, the mother will immedi- 

 ately return and resume her seat on the 

 eggs or brood. 



Very often I have approached the 

 nests, slowly and cautiously, coming 

 within a few feet without the bird offer- 

 ing to stir. They will sit perfectly still, 

 but eye you most intently all the while. 

 If you circle around the nest, the bird's 

 gaze will never be lifted from you for an 

 instant. 



For an animal (except a dog) the 

 Prairie Chicken, when incubating, has ab- 

 solutely no fear. Orchards, meadows 

 and stubble fields are favorite places for 

 building their homes. The beautiful 

 creatures expend but very little labor, 

 patience, or skill in constructing their 

 nests. It's a mere round hole, roughly 

 lined with weeds and grass. 



The eggs are about one-half the size 

 of an ordinary hen's and are of a grey- 

 ish-yellow hue. In number the eggs 

 range from eight to sixteen. I have 

 seen nests containing tw T enty or more. 

 The incubating period is about the same 

 as that of the grouse, pheasant and quail. 



The plowman very frequently comes 



across the bird and her nest, in most 

 instances the pretty speckled and striped 

 mother will not stir, even if stepped 

 upon by the horses. When the nest is 

 discovered in time, the kind hearted 

 farmer invariably plows a furrow 

 around, leaving bird and nest unmo- 

 lested. 



I knew of one farmer who, in cultiva- 

 tion of a small piece of ground, came 

 across sixteen nests. Although he used 

 extreme care and vigilance, he unhap- 

 pily destroyed several nests by plowing 

 eggs and broods under. In no instance 

 would the mother-bird move until the 

 ruthless plowshare had devastated her 

 home. One of the birds was trampled 

 upon by the horses and crushed to death, 

 greatly to the farmer's regret. 



The Prairie Chicken makes a kind, 

 watchful mother. She is always on the 

 alert for danger, and sounds a signal 

 warning to the brood that is instantly 

 heeded. Like a flash, the nimble little 

 creatures scud away to places of shelter. 

 When her chicks have hidden, the old 

 bird will take to wing, but will not fly 

 far away. 



After the danger is past, the mother 

 will return and by her calls speedily col- 

 lect the members of her brood. As a 

 usual thing, the young chickens are not 

 entirely deserted until nearly grown. 



Unless a nest has been rudely dis- 

 turbed, the mother-bird will not perma- 

 nently abandon it. If the eggs are 

 hatched, she will return and tenderly 

 care for the brood. 



J. Mayne Baltimore. 



