24 FIELD SMOtA'II.'O. 



across h a long oiic for a grouse, and I think 

 nothing but the migratory instinct would induce 

 the grouse to make it, unless it were pressing 

 danger. Now they face the clanger in order to 

 make their migration, for the people shoot at 

 them as they fly over the town to cross the 

 river, and some are killed. I think they no doubt 

 cross the Mississippi at many other points to 

 make the east bank, and no one ever sees them 

 return to Iowa. Ducks and geese are not so 

 plentiful about Elkhart as they are on the San- 

 gamon. Still their numbers are very large at times. 

 They come out in the evening to feed in the corn- 

 fields, and at such times 1 have often killed twenty 

 couple, which is a pretty good : bag for one gun. 

 Snipe are now scarce in the neighborhood of Elk- 

 hart. Cultivation and the draining of swamp- 

 lands have converted the places which were the 

 favorite resorts for snipe into the best wheat and 

 corn land in the State. The change of condition 

 in the land is the chief cause of the diminution of 

 game of various sorts in particular places. It has 

 more to do with it than all other causes. Al- 

 though the pinnated grouse are trapped and netted 

 by thousands, as well as shot in a sportsmanlike 

 manner, it would not of itself reduce their num- 



