Vo I. 8, No. 10 
Page 4 
groups of quail were located. Only 4 night-roosting groups of quail were located 
while searching 425 acres in 1965- The decrease in the numbers of night-roosting 
groups was associated with an overall decline in the population on the area, as 
evidenced by the prebreeding censuses and whistle counts. A deterioration of 
habitat conditions for quail was thought to be among the reasons for the decrease 
ir. the population. 
In a detailed study of the roosting habitat of bobwhites in southern Illinois 
it was recommended that management should provide roosting cover for quail and that 
such cover should be of open canopy, sparse, relatively short, and have a ground 
surface nearly devoid of duff. 
5. Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipulation r. j. Ellis 
Declining reproductive success of prairie chickens on the Bogota Study Area 
is indicated in the reports of broods (Table 3). The decline in the size of 
prairie chicken broods on this area since 1963 probably is related to a general 
deterioration of the habitat (Monthly Wildlife Research Letter, December, 1964), 
especially of nesting and brood-rearing cover. 
Table 3. Numbers of young in prairie chicken broods, Bogota Study Area, I 963 - 65 . 
Numbers in parentheses are sample sizes. 
1963 
1964 
1965 
Average Number 
of Young Per Brood 
8.2(10) 
5.8(13) 
5.6(8) 
Average Age* of 
Broods in Weeks 
When Observed 
5-4 
5-6 
4.6 
Vc 
Aged according to 
the condition of the 
molt. 
6. Rabbit Management J. A. Bailey, R. J. Siglin 
Results of feeding trials conducted with young cottontail rabbits during July 
and August, I 965 , have been reported (Monthly Wildlife Research Letter, August, 
1965). Several animals in this experiment survived long enough on single-species 
diets to permit evaluations of digestible nutrients in the foods. 
Collections of feces and of samples of the foods were begun on the 5th day of 
feeding trials. Collections were made for 7 days or, in a few cases, until the 
rabbits died. Reingestion was not prohibited. Moisture, crude protein, and energy 
were determined for all samples, and digestion coefficients were calculated (Table 4). 
Prickly lettuce, because of its high palatabiIity, protein content, and 
digestibility, is an exceptional food. Chicory is almost as good because it is 
highly digestible and palatable. Smartweed and red clover, although high in 
protein content, were Iow in palatability and were relatively indigestible (see 
Monthly Wildlife Research Letter, August, 1963 , for palatability ratings). 
