erietie woe Wh Lely, ON UW os, Bo LIN, 29 
Potosi, 60 Woodcock was the average kill per day. It was estimated that 
the Mississippi, Green, and Rock River Valley in the Henry County area, 
held more game than any place in the world, a hunter’s paradise. About 
this time breech loaders began to appear increasing the effectiveness of 
the hunter and his take. 
Plowing, burning, and egg gathering, common in spring, greatly re- 
duced the number of prairie nesting birds. By 1880 they were becoming less 
plentiful. Migration brought in Prairie Chicken from across the river in 
lowa. Merrit believed it was common for them to migrate long distances. 
By 1896 Prairie Chicken and Quail were becoming scarce in northern 
[Uinois. Merritt preached setting aside grassland for nesting and brood 
rearing habitat and a closed season until October or even better November. 
Quail, he thought, might survive intensive cultivation as they were half- 
jJomesticated. The Prairie Chicken demonstrates nature’s beautiful purpose 
of adaptation. King of the game birds, excellent eating, sold well on the 
market. Merritt winds up his book as a sort of prophet and states that 
‘Juxurious living is like a parasite around a healthy tree; it finally kills 
the tree.” “The worship of money-gods is fatal to any nation and destroys 
any belief.” This book is available from the Public Library at Kewanee, 
(linois. —J. W. Galbreath 
a A f ray 
Federal Government Offers Interesting 
Publications at Reasonable Prices 
auite a number of news releases from the federal government come across 
the editors’ desks over a period of time, and from these releases we have 
selected a number of publications that we thought might be of interest 
‘o “Audubon Bulletin” readers. All inquiries and orders for these publica- 
‘tions should be sent directly to: Superintendent of Documents, Goverment 
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Please ask for publication by 
qaame and catalog number. 
WATERFOWL STATUS REPORT, 1966. 
Presents groups of date organized by flyways with corresponding ap- 
oendixes of tables which formed the basis for the 1966 waterfowl regula- 
ions. 1966, published 1967. 96 p. il. Catalog number I 49.15 /3:99 ) eeiike 
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, 1966. 
Describes the National Wildlife Refuge System of the United States — 
areas of land dedicated by the American people to preserving for themselves 
ind their children as much of our native wildlife as can be retained along 
with our modern civilization. 1966, published 1967. 28 p. il. Catalog num- 
oer I 49.66:32 35C 
SFFECTS ON MONOLAYERS ON INSECTS, FISH AND WILDLIFE — 
\ Reservoir Evaporation Reduction Study. 
This report by the Bureau of Reclamation evaluates the influence on 
nsects, fish and wildlife of long-chain alcohol monomolecular films, being 
ised in the Bureau’s long-range research program to reduce evaporation 
Osses in reservoirs. 1967. 67 p. il. Catalog number I 27.54:7 30¢c 
