fyke is then quickly detached and carried to shade where the birds ate promptly 
banded and released or ‘placed. ina crate if for transportation, “Crates with 
smooth slats and a burlap, buffer top are ‘Satis sterctbons) — ae feet high for prairie 
chickens’ and 1 foot high for quail. mre 
The net for quail is ‘used. ‘in much the same way and is of the same general 
construction. The wings, however, need be only 8 inches high, but a hood about 
4 feet high and extending ’6 feet each side of the fyke is Added to provide the 
avernang needed to catch flushing birds. The fyke is 15 feet long, tapering 
Teron. 12) inches an diameter_at the entrance to about 7? inches at the end, and is 
held in shape by wire hoops about ¢ 30 inches apart. Quail are caught equally well 
outside the motts or within them, and at oy time’ of “day. | 
Rabbits are. a nuisance in connection. ‘with trapping operations, as they 
cut their way out, making holes through which the bands can escape. | aliumans 
desirable to take wuatever precautions are possible to avoid getting these 
,animals in. the nets. 
Feed patches, —-Areas averaging 5 SI/2 acres in size were fenced and in 
part pat ivated ‘for feed patches, Thrée-wire fences found not sufficient to 
exclude stock, cost on the average $22.77 per acre for labor and materials, and 
four-wire fences that did exclude cattle, $33.35. Drought kept down production, 
in. the 25 feed patches established. It was found, however, that 2 acres of feed 
to each section was inadequate for the wildlife that resorted to it, being 
entirely consumed prior to the period of greatest need late in winter. Rabbits 
devoured a great deal of the feed patch vegetation and damaged plantings of trees 
and shrubs. It became apparent that plantations intended to benefit the prairie 
chicken and bobwhite must be protected from rabbits. ‘ 
Use of ee aanene is necessary in this shin-oak country to keep down 
the growth of oaks that, uncontrolled, would suppress the grass, and to clear ~ 
away the uneaten residue of old grass stands so that a clear growth of new and 
porate)! e herbage of superior fattening qualities becomes available. Burning 
between April 1 and 10 is compatible with the welfare of both grazing and game- 
bird production, To control intensity, burning should be done following rain 
or heavy dew, and numerous patches of from a fraction of an acre to several acres 
in extent should be left unburned, Burning appears to stimulate immediate growth 
of native legumes and to be followed about the third year by a heavy crop of 
acorns. To assure the presence of some acorns, good cover, and summer shade, 
burning of the same area should be done not oftener:than once in 3 years. 
Vater requirem ents.--Water has no place in the daily routine of the quail, 
though the birds will “drink if water is available near heavy cover. Frequenting 
the vicinity of water in some cases seems for tne purpose of catching insects 
that are more numerous there, The lesser prairie chicken, while at times observed 
to drink freely, at others demonstrates its independence of a water supply. 
Tater may have attraction for both SHOSOASS), but. us probably no necessity, even | 
in the hottest part of the summer. 
Precators,—-Thirty-one stomachs of crows and white-necked ravens were 
collected and examined, The principal foods were insects, grains, carrion, and 
lizards. ges of prairie chickéns were detected in the stomachs of 3 nestlings. 
The destruction of nests of the game birds by crows and ravens seems not serious. 
In 1935 cover being very deficient bécause of drought, more eggs were destroyed ] 
La 
