50 FISH AND GAME. 



wild house cat. The reservation is 4 miles from the nearest 

 town, the nearest house where there is a cat 2 miles distant, 

 and yet we kill on an average of 15 cats on this reservation 

 each year. It is estimated that there are now present on the 

 island of Marthas Vineyard some 1,000 of this once nearly ex- 

 tirpated native game bird. 



On May 12 a brush fire burned over an area of 13,000 acres 

 (about 20 square miles) before it was checked. The heath hens 

 which inhabit this area lost their nests and eggs, and, in addi- 

 tion, many rabbits and black ducks' nests were destroyed. In 

 this crisis the people of Marthas Vineyard responded nobly, 

 and by their whole-hearted assistance the fire was checked 

 before irreparable damage was done. Superintendent Day of 

 the Marthas Vineyard Reservation reports, concerning this fire, 

 as follows : - 



I am afraid the heath hens did not increase in numbers; in fact, my 

 opinion is that the birds just about held their own. Had the fire occurred 

 three weeks later, I feel that the heath hens would have been a thing of 

 the past, as the hens would all have been setting and stayed on their nests. 

 As it was, large numbers of eggs were destroyed, and afterward, there 

 being no cover, the birds dropped their eggs promiscuously in places where 

 they were soon destroyed by crows. The old birds themselves were easy 

 marks for the birds of prey. Ten skeletons were found -within three weeks 

 after the fire, notwithstanding the fact that there were a large number of 

 hawks killed. Some of the birds nested again later. 



I take this opportunity of recommending that at least a few pairs of 

 these birds be distributed in other sections, to evade the possible chance 

 of their becoming extinct from forest fires or disease. 



The proper course to be pursued in the restoration of this 

 bird to the mainland is being studied. Their numbers by this 

 time have attained such proportions as to warrant some dimi- 

 nution of the Marthas Vineyard flock for experimental stocking. 

 Plans are now under consideration for liberating birds at suit- 

 able places, such as on Cape Cod, on No Man's Land, where 

 Joshua Crane, Esq., of Boston has agreed to give them special 

 attention, and on the 5,000 acre State forest located in South 

 Carver, Plymouth County, where the character of the country 

 and vegetation is very similar to that of the Vineyard. The 

 prime reason for this step is to make doubly sure of perpetua- 

 tion, in view of the fact that large brush fires, natural enemies 



