Show BIG VALUE TO FARMER prairie chicken Is efficient destroyer of farm pests nearly 15 per cent of birds food consists of insects bulk of them grasshoppers destroys many beetles the prairie chicken now common only in kansas nebraska minnesota the dakotas and manitoba is one of the birds which formerly occurred over a much wider range than at pres ent and in far greater abundance it has been reduced principally by hunt ers as have so many of our finest species of birds many sportsmen declare allegiance to the highest prin caples of game preservation yet tall to practice these principles like birds of its family the prairie chicken is very prolific and it adequately protected would soon become numerous in its old haunts the bird is easily domesticated hence is emi bently suited for propagation on preserves the prairie chicken is valuable not only as game but as an efficient de of farm pests and any farm er would profit by having these birds reared on his place almost 15 per prairie chicken cent of the birds food consists of weed seeds including those of such pests as foxtail grass smart weed and ragweed the prairie chicken eats a great deal of grain but takes most of it from stubble the bird Is fond of such mast hazelnuts bazel nuts and acorns nearly 1 per cent of the birds food consists of insects the bulk of them being grasshoppers among other pests eaten by this species are the colorado potato beetle cucumber beetle may beetle cotton worm army worm cutworm and chinch bug the ruffed grouse called par in the northwestern states and ruffed grouse pheasant in some other parts of its range is one of our most widely rang ing game birds it inhabits wooded regions from canada and alaska south 10 california colorado tennessee and a arthem georgia it responds to pro gratifying manner u OAS proved to be well adapted to propagation under artificial conditions on account of these qualities and its desirability as a game species it is u good subject tor game farming wild fruits mast and browse make up the bulk of the vegetable food of tale bird it Is ory fond of hazel nuts beechnuts beech nuts chestnuts and acorns and it eats practically all kinds of wild berries and other fruits varl ous weed seeds are also consumed more than 10 per cent of the food con fists of insects about half of which are destructive beetles |