THE HEATH HEN 13 
grounds must be sought out to make a good 
showing, and so each year the Chickens are 
thinned out in their old haunts or driven far- 
ther west. Unless existing game laws are re- 
spected and enforced even more strictly than 
heretofore the day is not far distant when these 
fowl] will be as rare in the west as to-day in their 
former eastern homes. A feeder on grains and 
seeds, berries and various insects, its flesh is 
tender and of good flavor during its happier sea- 
son though growing a trifle strong during the 
winter months. It is considered a prime table 
delicacy and thousands are killed for the mar- 
ket each year, which fact leaves a fine chance 
for game law improvement. 
At the beginning of the shooting season the 
Chickens lie very close, often running along 
just in front of the dogs with heads showing 
above the short grass, clucking nervously and 
springing into the air by twos and threes with 
steady and only moderately speedy flight, so 
that a quick shot may use several cartridges be- 
fore all are gone. It often happens that some 
old male remains to rise unexpectedly when all 
the covey is thought to have gone, and catch- 
ing the tyro with empty or open gun, as often 
