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Lampropeltis calligaster was studied at the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation, 1948 to 1978, and in western Harvey County, south-central Kansas, 1959-1963. At both localities L. calligaster was found along with fifteen other snake species, and compared with others was intermediate in both size and abundance. It occupies a variety of grassland habitats. Males differ from females in relatively longertails (15.2% S-Vvs. 13.5%) and larger size (870 vs. 823mm S-V; 216 vs. 176.5gms). Scale-clipped individuals that were recaptured had made movements up to 485m (males) and 350m (females) in fairly well graduated series, implying ranges of these diameters, with areas of about 22 and nine has., respectively. Microtus ochrogaster was estimated to make up approximately 48% by volume of 66 recorded food items. Eight other species of small mammals, seven of reptiles and the eggs of bobwhite quail made up the remainder of the food. Neither insects nor amphibians were found as primary food items. For 25 egg clutches, including 11 obtained in this study and 14 from published literature, average was 10.10+ .98 (6-17); egg-laying extends over a little more than a month and average date is 3 July. Many adult females are non-breeders. Most young hatch in late August or September. Growth is highly variable. Typical year-old young have nearly doubled in length, from 272 to 536mm S-V. A gain of 23mm per month is typical in the second year. Maturity is attained in the second or third year. Because of differences in size, habitat, food preference and hunting technique, L. calligaster seemingly does not compete with many of the snake species that are its community associates on the two study areas. Certain species share some of the same food resources, but in every instance there are important differences. The prairie kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster) is a secretive species that is relatively uncommon throughout most of its range, hence thorough studies of its natural history and ecology have not been made, and most information that has accumulated concerning it in the literature is of an anecdotal nature. In a thirty-year field study of snake populations of the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation, these kingsnakes were obtained in such small numbers that they were never a major objective. However, the accumulated records yield a substantial sample that permits insight into various aspects of the species' ecology. Conseql3ently

Since winter and early spring are nutritionally the most critical periods of the year for wild avian species in temperate regions, the availability of basic energy sources during these periods is vitally important. Many have studied food habits of game birds like bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) but relatively few researchers have been concerned with energy content of the more common food items. Even more neglected are studies designed to determine basic energy retention by seeds when exposed to weathering. Baumgartner et al. (1952 p. 345) and Korschgen (1948) found bobwhite quail fed heavily on seeds of ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) and sunflower (Helianthus sp.) when available. Robel (1963 p. 781) reported sunflower and ragweed seeds to be a major constituent in the diet of Kansas bobwhite quail during fall and early winter. However, use of these two seed sources decreased as winter progressed, presumably due to decreased availability (Robel and Slade, 1965 p. 205). Because these two seed sources are commonly preferred by bobwhite quail, one might expect theit energy content to be high, otherwise natural selection would favor that portion of the population that preferred a seed source higher in energy value. If energy content of these seeds decreased as winter progressed, it would be of survival value for the population to exhibit a change in seed preference during late winter and early spring. Decreases of ragweed and sunflower seeds in the diet of quail could logically be due to a change in food preference by quail as well as a decrease in availability. This study was initiated to determine basic energy content of annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus)2 and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) and their energy retention during the fall and winter.

The bobwhite quail, Colinus virginianus (Linnaeus), needs no introduction to Kansas outdoor enthusiasts. As a game species its popularity in the state is second to none. Its abundance depends on properly regulated hunting, on the quality of its environment (food and cover), and on many other factors which operate in nature. Certainly, climatic conditions, usually unpredictable and not controllable, greatly influence this seemingly hardy bird. Climate exerts a direct influence on bobwhite populations or indirectly affects the birds by increasing or decreasing the quality of their env ironment. Severe ice storms kill many birds in winter. On the other hand, two successive years having a combination of favorable rainfall and relatively mild winters, especially in central and western Kansas, can greatly improve the quality of the habitat and extend the carrying capacity of the land for bobwhites, with a resultant increase in the population. The effects of these environmental factors can mean the difference between successful and unsuccessful hunts, and are of interest to game technicians, because they always are alert for methods of predicting trends, -either upwards or downwards, in bobwhite populations so as to be able to recommend the lengthening or shortening of hunting seasons accordingly. Examination of the wings of bobwhites taken by hunters from various localities within the state shows the number in each age-class of quail and gives clues to the current status, and also next year's status, of the quail crop. Therefore, the State Biological Survey of Kansas at the University of Kansas sent out an appeal for one wing from each bobwhite taken by Kansas sportsmen in the 1951 open season. State game protectors of the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission, officials of the Kansas Association for Wildlife, Inc. (KAW), members of sportsman clubs and interested individuals were approached, and the response was excellent. Hunters from all parts of central and eastern Kansas sent in packages of these wings. Clipping off, packaging, and mailing the wings required expenditure of time and effort on the part of the sportsmen and indicates the sincere interest of Kansans in their wildlife resources. The cooperation of these persons, most of whom remain anonymous, made this study possible. The Survey received 1662 bobwhite wings from cooperating Kansas

This report is the fifth in a series made possible by the cooperation of hundreds of conservation-minded sportsmen in Kansas. These cooperators each year send to the Biological Survey one wingtip from each bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) that they shoot in the legal open hunting season. To date, more than 15 thousand wings have been sent in-1,662 in 1951, 2,871 in 1952, 3,118 in 1953, 4,581 in 1954, and 2,786 for the 1955 hunting season. The wings for the 1955 hunting season are from 53 counties in the State (see Fig. 1).

Changes in age ratios resulting from differential mortality within a population allow estimation of seasonal mortality without precise population enumeration. An 8-year study detected shifts in age ratios between fall and spring, from 7.36 juveniles per adult for the SeptemberNovember period to 2.96 for the January-March period. The use of age ratio data and the procedures discussed herein resulted in estimating an average age-differential mortality of 52.7 percent in a quail population between fall and spring in northeastern Kansas.

For the fourth year sportsmen of Kansas have made possible another report on bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in Kansas. Each year since 1951, sportsmen in Kansas have been requested to clip one wingtip from each bobwhite that they shoot during the legal open season, and send this wingtip to the State Biological Survey. The response to these requests has grown steadily since 1951, when 1662 wings were received from 37 counties in the State, to 1954, when 4581 wings were received from 58 counties. In all, almost 13 thousand wingtips from the best bobwhite-producing counties of Kansas have been examined. The results of the analysis of each year's wings, together with a comparison of climatic factors affecting the production of bobwhites, have been published each year since 1951 (see Robinson and Baker, 1952, 1953, and 1954). These publications are sent to cooperators, and are available to other interested persons. To obtain information concerning the food habits of bobwhites, we asked cooperators, in 1954, to remove crops or "craws" from bob

This is the sixth in a series of reports made possible by hundreds of conservation-minded sportsmen in Kansas. The total of 5700 wingtips from bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) sent in by these cooperators for the 1956 hunting season brings the total number of wings examined in the six years of this study to more than 20,000. More wings were received following the 1956 hunting season than in any other year of this study. The wings for the 1956 hunting season were from 52 counties of the State (see Fig. 1).

For many wildlife species, the winter and spring seasons present the most severe environmental conditions. In temperate regions, freezing and subfreezing weather require that wildlife species expend large amounts of energy for maintenance of body temperature alone. This large energy requirement coupled with the increased energy needs of gonadal activity during the spring months makes the winter and spring seasons the periods when energy requirements are extremely high for wildlife species. This peak in energy requirement coincides with the period when food sources are least abundant and available.