Vol. 12, No. 10 
Page 2 
of limestone grit from poor pheasant range, relative to that of limestone grit 
from good range, constitutes an important part of the continuing investigation 
of possible effects of chemical elements on the distribution of pheasants in 
Illinois. Samples of limestone grit, 2-6 mm in diameter, were collected from 10 
sites each at Neoga (poor range) and at Sibley (good range), and spectrographical1y 
analyzed for calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, plus 23 
trace elements. Mean concentrations of three elements exhibited statistically 
significant (P^0.05) differences, Neoga limestone compared with Sibley limestone. 
Nickel was more abundant, and sodium and lead were less abundant, in the 
limestone from Neoga than in the limestone from Sibley. When these differences 
are considered in light of current knowledge of mineral nutrition, only the 
difference exhibited by sodium appears to be of potential importance in limiting 
the distribution of pheasants. Sodium was also less abundant in unsorted grit 
(all grit 2-6 mm in diameter that occurred in samples of soil) and in pheasant 
livers from Neoga than in those from Sibley (MWRL 12 (1):2 and 12 (2) :2). 
4. Responses of Bobwhites to Habitat Manipu1 ation J. A . Ellis, 
P. J. Matthews 
One of the problems in describing the vegetative conditions of an area is to 
determine what particular time of the growing season to make the analyses. Since 
1966 we have measured vegetative conditions on the experimental management zones 
of Forbes and Dale by taking quadrat samples during August. The vegetation 
present in August prevails throughout the winter, and, by August, most of the 
plants are identifiable. 
In 1969» quadrat samples of vegetation were taken in 1-year-old corn plots 
on the Forbes Area in May and August. Results of these vegetative analyses 
revealed that more plant species were found in May than in August. However, the 
most abundant species found in August — rough buttonweed ( Diodia teres ) , common 
ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia ) , smartweed ( Polyqonum spp.), and goldenrod 
( Solidago spp.)--were also the most abundant plants in May. Plants common in 
May but conspicuously absent in August were: water-starwort (Callitriche 
terrestris ), bittercress ( Cardamine arenicola ), shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa- 
pastor is) , and forget-me-not ( Myosotis virqinica ) . The amount of bare ground 
changed relatively little from May, 30 percent, to August, 35 percent. 
5- Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipulation R. L. Westemeier 
Prescribed burning has been accomplished on 47 plots totaling 279 acres on 
prairie chicken sanctuaries at Bogota; 41 acres were burned in March 1968, 61 
acres in August 1968, 74 acres in March 1969, and 103 acres in August 1969* The 
objective of burning is to learn whether fire can be used to maintain the 
attractiveness of the sanctuaries for nesting hens. Thus far, searches for nests 
were made in the following types of cover: 51 acres (15 plots), the first growing 
season after a March burn (March burn 1); 54 acres (11 plots), the first full 
growing season after an August burn (August burn |); and 21 acres (5 plots), the 
second growing season after a March burn (March burn II). 
No nests have yet been found in the March burn I type; in 1969, one nest was 
found in the August burn I type (1.9 nests per 100 acres) and three nests were 
