24 



THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY 



(For the Collectors Monthly.) 

 The Prairie Chicken. 



Its colors are mostly grayish and 

 brown, beautifully arranged. The male 

 birds have long pointed tufts of dark 

 brown feathers ou each side of their neck, 

 and under these is a large orange-color- 

 ed air-sac, which can be greatly enlarged 

 by filling it with air. When these air- 

 sacs are filled with air the chicken lowers 

 his head close to the ground and opening 

 his mouth emits a very loud booming 

 sound which gradually decreases until 

 the air is all exhausted from the air-sacs. 

 The sound can be heard for a mile or 

 more and for its pecular drumming, the 

 bird is often called a "Drummer." 



The female bird has a small smooth 

 head that resembles the head of a gopher, 

 which is often shot for a chicken, when he 

 raises his head out of the grass. The 

 Prarie Chicken does not fly until you al- 

 most step on it, thatis if itis in the grass 

 or under cover, then it fly's up so sudden- 

 ly and swiftly that it startles most hunt- 

 ers, that are not accustomed to shooting 

 chickens, so that they most always miss 

 the bird. It moves through the air by 

 rapidly flapping its wings, and then sail- 

 ing for many rods, holding its wing ex- 

 tended. Prairie Chickens are found in 

 coveys of from twenty or thirty, unless 

 they have been cut up by hunters, who 

 by the way are gradually decreasing their 

 number like all other kinds of grouse. 

 The Prairie Hen builds its nest on the 

 ground under a tuft of tall grass or bush 

 and is a hollow scratched in the soil lined 

 with grasses and feathers. They lay 

 eight to twelve, or even sixteen eggs in 

 exceptional cases. 



The eggs are light drab, or a dull buffy, 

 or yellowish hue, occasionally sprinkled 

 with brown or nearly black. As soon as 

 the little grouse, which are hatched in 



nineteen days, are all out of shells they 

 follow their mother through the grass in 

 search of food. If you should happen 

 near them, they will hide in a moment in 

 the grass and under the leaves of plants 

 so that you cannot find any of them, 

 while the mother will try many very cute 

 ways to lead you from the place. 



In summer the Prairie Chickens sleep in 

 meadows and tall grass, while in the day 

 time they feed upon seeds, wheat, corn, 

 etc., but in winter they plunge under the 

 snow and make a kind of snow house, 

 where they sleep snug and warm. While 

 in the day time they feed upon seeds and 

 wild rose buds. Of 90 eggs of this specie 

 that have passed through my hands, the 

 average size was 1.70 x 1.30, while the 

 largest was 1.90 x 1.52, and the smallest 

 1.23x1.02. D. S. Musser. 



Ostrich farming is quite profitable in 

 Australia. On one farm in Port Augusta 

 there are seven hundred birds worth one 

 hundred dollers each. The yield of 

 feathers this year, from these seven 

 hundred birds, it is thought, will amount 

 to seven thousand dollars. 



Cones' Key. 



By Elliot Coues' M. A. M. D. Ph I). 



Fourth and latest edition, — is to well 

 known to need description being recog- 

 nized by all leading Ornithologist to be 

 the Standard authority, on Ornithology. 

 Profusely Illustrated, containing over 

 900 pages fully indexed by several 

 thousand entries. Sent to any address 

 on receiept of price $7.50. Address, 



C. H. Prince. 



281 Main St., Danielsouville. Conn. 



Your cabinet will be generally improv- 

 ed by introducing "Anti Moth" into it. 



