[MATERIALS AND METHODS]
Complete dissections of the muscles and nerves were made in eight legs (of five specimens) of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), six legs (of four specimens) of the Greater Prairie Chicken (T. cupido pinnatus), three legs (of two specimens) of Attwater's Prairie Chicken (T. cupido attwateri), and six legs (of four specimens) of the Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus jamesi).
For convenience and simplicity of reference, each specimen has been designated by a symbol consisting of the first letter of the genus and of the species (and also of the subspecies in T. cupido) plus a number. The letter "L" or "R" is added to indicate the left or right leg. Thus the symbol T.p. 1L refers to the left leg of specimen number one of T. pallidicinctus.
All specimens are in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. The catalogue number of each specimen, and the legs of it that were dissected, are listed below.
| T.p. 1L,R | KU38520 | T.c.p. 4L | KU38518 | |
| T.p. 2L,R | KU38521 | T.c.a. 1L,R | KU36617 | |
| T.p. 3L,R | KU38522 | T.c.a. 2L | KU36618 | |
| T.p. 4L | KU38523 | P.p. 1L,R | KU38526 | |
| T.p. 5R | KU38527 | P.p. 2L | KU38518 | |
| T.c.p. 1L,R | KU38515 | P.p. 3L,R | KU38528 | |
| T.c.p. 2L,R | KU38516 | P.p. 4L | KU38529 | |
| T.c.p. 3L | KU38517 |
The specimens were injected in the field either with formalin (10%) or embalming fluid, except for those of T. c. attwateri, which were frozen; the latter were later injected with embalming fluid. Injection in all the birds was by hypodermic syringe into all major muscle masses, into the body cavities, and subcutaneously in the neck, wings, and feet. In those specimens injected with embalming fluid, the body cavities were injected with formalin. The embalming fluid consisted of 70 per cent alcohol, glycerin (or propylene glycol), and formalin (full strength) in the approximate ratio of 78:20:2, respectively. This fluid gave good preservation; these specimens had the advantages of lacking almost entirely the irritating odor of formalin and of having pliable tissues. The skin of those specimens originally injected with formalin was slit in several places and they were transferred to crocks containing embalming fluid (without the formalin). After a period of many weeks, with two changes of fluid, most of the formalin odor was eliminated and the muscles were sufficiently pliable to be easily dissected. All specimens were kept in containers filled with embalming fluid. No mold ever appeared, even though no phenol or other chemical was added.
To facilitate comparison, two or three specimens were frequently dissected simultaneously. The nerves and smaller muscles were dissected with the aid of a stereoscopic microscope mounted on a long movable arm. In order satisfactorily to expose the lumbosacral plexus the posterior half of the sternum and pectoral muscles, as well as the abdominal viscera, were removed.
To insure more nearly accurate proportions, drawings of the pelvis and of some of the muscles were made with the aid of photographs of the several specimens listed above.