286 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



approach each, other, watching to discover some weak 

 point of attack, then dash together with great violence, 

 their feathers upright or reversed, and they advance and 

 retreat, their fighting being similar to that of tame roosters, 

 until at last one is defeated, and runs away crestfallen, 

 while the victor marches over with majestic mien to the 

 coterie of admiring hens, who accept him as their lord 

 and master. 



While the spring-time is one of so much moment to 

 the hens, and they build their nests preparatory to hatch- 

 ing out their young, these old roosters are either too 

 proud or lazy to work; possibly they think the females 

 are born to work, like the Indian who said: "Buck no 

 like work; squaw do all work. Buck get tired; squaw 

 no get tired. If squaw get tired, squaw die; then Buck 

 get young squaw, who no get tired, but do heap work." 

 The cock grouse do not help build the nest, neither do 

 they aid in hatching or rearing the young; but while the 

 hens are performing these maternal pleasures and duties, 

 these old roosters wander around, leading a lonesome life, 

 in groups or flocks, quarreling and fighting; about the 

 only good thing that can be said of them at this time is, 

 that they stay home nights. The food of the prairie 

 chicken consists of seeds, beans, peas, grasshopioers, 

 insects, and all kinds of grain. While they are found in 

 great abundance in the prairie States, throughout the fields 

 of prairie grass, yet they like best the partially settled 

 lands, for there they find food in plenty and of great 

 variety. When they are young, they are especially fond 

 of grasshoppers, which they are expert in catching. 

 They grow rapidly, the strength of their bodies seemingly 

 exceeding that of their wings, for they soon tire of flight 

 when young, and fly but a short distance. About August 

 1st they are two-thirds grown, and are the easiest bird to 

 hit that flies; they will then lie well to the dogs, dislike 



