the coloration of the rectrices, the pinnae and the air sacs ( Ridgway 

 and Friedmann, 1946:206). 



The 1949-1952 Decline in Numbers 



The changes in the population on the study area are presented 

 in Table 6. These data represent the highest number of birds 

 present in each flock for any one season in one day. No data were 

 obtained from flock range C in the autumns of 1949, 1950 or 1951. 



Table 6. Number of Greater Prairie CracKENS Using Two Flock 

 Ranges on the Welda Area, 1949-1952.. 



Season and Year 



Flock Range 





A C 



Fall of 1949 146 ? 



Spring of 1950 104 43 



Fall 'of 1950, before hunting 145 ? 



Fall of 1950, after hunting 72 ? 



Spring of 1951 47 31 



Fairof 1951, before hunting 42 ? 



Fall of 1951, after hunting 24 ? 



Spring of 1952 15 15 



Fall>f 1952, before hunting 8 18 



Fall of 1952, after hunting 6 12 



Data on sex and age of greater prairie chickens examined in the 

 two open seasons are presented in Table 7. Anderson and Woodson 

 counties are representative of the best range of the greater prairie 

 chicken in the Eastern Area. Chase, Chautauqua, Butler and 

 Cowley counties are typical of the Bluestem Hills. The sample 

 from Wabaunsee County was taken at the edge of the northern part 

 of the Bluestem Hills and is representative of a condition inter- 

 mediate between the Bluestem Hills and the Eastern Area. Data 

 were obtained from 273 birds in 1950, 212 birds in 1951 and 119 

 birds in 1952. 



Fluctuations of the population of greater prairie chickens in 

 Kansas, prior to 1913, are not demonstrable, unless the action of 

 the State Legislature in 1903 in closing some counties to hunting 

 be taken to indicate a low point in numbers at that time. An all- 

 time low seems to have been reached in 1913, when the season 

 was closed throughout the State for the first time. A period of 

 abundance in 1921 is reported by Clapp (1922:9). If open seasons 



[53] 



