TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PAGE 



Introduction 4 



The Lesser Prairie Chicken 7 



The Greater Prairie Chicken 9 



History 9 



Characteristics of the Range and Present Distribution 12 



Life History of the Greater Prairie Chicken 17 



General Remarks 17 



Description of the Welda Area 18 



Daily Routine of One Flock 19 



Activities of Males on the Booming Ground 22 



Summer Activities of Males 23 



Reproductive Cycle of Females 23 



Nesting 24 



Rate of Egg Laying 25 



Period of Incubation 26 



Success of Nests 26 



Size of Clutch 27 



Decline in Size of Broods 29 



Plumages OF the Greater Prairie Chicken 31 



Development of Plumage in the Young 31 



Age Based on the Condition of the Molt 36 



Molt of the Adult Greater Prairie Chicken 38 



Length of Primaries as Correlated with Age and Sex 39 



Weights of the Greater Prahue Chicken in Autumn 41 



Food Habits of the Greater Prairie Chicken 43 



Population Changes of the Greater Prairie Chicken 51 



The 1949-1952 DecHne in Numbers 53 



^ Changes in Age Composition 56 



i Changes in Sex Composition 57 



) Differences in Abundance as Indicated by Hunters* Success . . 57 



^ Management 59 



'} Census 59 



Hunting Regulations and Refuges 61 



i Range and Pasture Management 62 



J Restocking 64 



'J Summary and Recommendations 64 



Literature Cited 66 



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