PRAIRIE CHICKENS — PINNATED GROUSE. 293 



you think you are right, steadily pull the trigger, and 

 the bird will be yours. Don't wait and watch to see the 

 effect of 3' our shot, but quickly draw on another, and let 

 drive at it; if it is a quartering bird, be very careful or 

 you will shoot behind it, and you will be apt to do this 

 if the bird is over twenty-five yards from you. When 

 you see you have a quarterer, draw in behind it, cover it, 

 then pull in ahead from one to three feet, depending on 

 the distance it is from you. When a bird Jumps up 

 almost in your face, be very careful or it will get away 

 from you, for it will be so close then that, if you shoot, 

 your shot will not have a chance to scatter, while if you 

 hit, the bird will be torn to pieces; the better way is, let 

 the bird go over your head, wheel as it passes you, then 

 fire just under it, and a trifle ahead of its bill, and it will 

 come down. The flight of the prairie chicken is exceed- 

 ingly graceful, similar to that of the quail and others of 

 the grouse family. Their wing-motion is made with the 

 greatest rapidity; this gives them propelling force. After 

 getting this motion, they stiffen their wings, and sail, 

 sometimes 100 yards, as true as an arrow, and without 

 the least preceptible motion. At this time, they present a 

 pretty appearance, for they are held up by their slightly 

 curved wings, while one forgets for the time the power 

 that forced them to this great speed. Such is their man- 

 ner of flight, and is kept up until they alight. While 

 their flight going with the wind is very swift (in a strong 

 wind at a rate of perhaps 100 miles an hour), I have often 

 noticed them flying along at the side of a passenger train, 

 and would estimate their average speed to be from thirty- 

 five to forty -five miles an hour. When the season for shoot- 

 ing prairie chickens has arrived, throughout the vicinity 

 where they are to be found the excitement is intense, 

 and each hunter has some favorite place where he intends 

 to be located at the break of day, early enough to be 



