Conservation Methods Practically every surviving remnant of chickens 
shown on the map is associated with same accidental survival of special 
cover. This fact, taken in conjunction with the known fact that the 
Species has a wide seasonal cruising radius, indicates that a proper 
system of special refuges might successfully conserve the species for 
@ long time to come. Such a refuge system should aim primarily to pre-~ 
serve remnants of slough and swamp cover. This is the same kind of land 
aS should be sought for pheasant refuges,and the co-existehce of the 
two species in the northeast indicates that there would be no serias 
conflict between them. It also seems obvious that the open season on 
chickens should be discontinued,at least until a dependable system of 
refuges has been put into effect. 
Fluctuations Between Years Special inquiry was made throughout the 
Chicken country to get the date of eny high and low years in local 
chicken populations. I was unable to find eny trace of such fluctua- 
tions,which are usually remembered by sportsmen for any species on 
which an open season exists. It may very well be that the remnants in 
Illinois are so isolated that they are emempt from the diseases which 
appear to sweep the more northern habitats,in the seme way that ruffed 
grouse in Ohio and Illinois appear to be exempt from the northern short- 
afeSe 
-37= 

