Pierce, on Prairie Chicken in Central Iowa 
105 
fire were eaten at once, while the others were sorted and the 
fresh ones used later for the table. It was small wonder that 
this species could not regain its slipping foothold on life when 
its nests and young were destroyed in this cruel and whole- 
sale manner. 
When the fields of timothy hay began to supplant the 
prairies, the Prairie Chicken accepted tliem as nesting places, 
blit here too they met with misfortune, for the mowing ma- 
chine destroyed all the nests and young to be found at that 
season. When the hay was raked up, too, it was not nnusnal 
to find the mangled body of a mother bird who would not for- 
sake her treasures when the moAver came along making its 
cutting remarks.’’ 
My friend, Mr. Gates, tells of many interesting characteris- 
tics of the Prairie Chicken, Avhich he has observed during his 
sojourn in this region. They Avere looked upon as reliable 
weather prophets by farmers in frequent instances. Also when 
they indulged in their spring fighting and mating antics, the 
farmer knew that he Avonld soon be Avorking in his fields. The 
important-feeling males would go to a knoll or rise in the 
ground (the highest spot to be found alAvays) to fight and 
boom, early morning being the preferred time. When tAV-o 
cocks found themselves facing each other, they invariably 
sprang into the air and fleAv at each other at full speed; when 
they crashed together they Avere usually about three feet from 
the ground. The Prairie Chicken’s “600m” is certainly a avou- 
derfnl sound on a fine spring morning, and once heard it is 
never to be forgotten ; the bird is seldom thought of Avithont 
the deep resounding boom coming to mind. 
My father tells of a Prairie Hen which nested in a slough 
beside a cornfield, the nest being just at the end of a corn row. 
When plowing the corn in this particular row, it was necessary 
for the team to pass over the nest, one horse on each side of it. 
The brave bird did not leave the nest until the horses were 
directly over her. They Avere of course frightened when she 
burst out betAveen their legs, but the eggs hatched safely. 
Horses often stepped on the birds Avhen they refused to de- 
sert their nests. I knoAV of tAvo boys Avho set some Prairie 
Chicken eggs under a domestic hen. They awaited the devel- 
opments with considerable interest, but Avhen the little ones 
became tAvo days old they all disappeared — nature had re- 
claimed her OAvn.” 
