CHARACTERISTICS 



565 



Ac+uqI Popula^-ioo EsVrrnotcs . 



App»-oximate Populotion Levels 



Before and Af ^-er Pet-tod of Siudy 

 Smoothed Vcalues- 



10 

 O 



- 300 



liJ 



■a 200 



D 

 Z 



100 



ADIRONDACK 



-1 1 1 1. 



1928 1929 1930 I93P 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 



YEAR 



FIGURE 58. TREND OF FALL POPULATION LEVELS ON THE CONNECTICIT HILL AND ADIRONDACK 

 AREAS WITH SMOOTHED VALUES SUPERIMPOSED 



reached a low ebb comparable with that of the late '20s. The interval between these major 

 depressions would thus be at least 17 years. Nevertheless it is significant to note that the 

 minor depression of 1936-37. which came at a time when much of New England was experien- 

 cing a scarcity of grouse, occurred nine years after the low of 1927-28 and eight years before 

 the scarcity of 1944 on this area. On the Adirondack area there was a moderate depression 

 in 1935 but it is not known when the previous scarcity took place. 



Synchronism 



The data presented so far show clearly that grouse pojjulations have characteristically ex- 

 hibited an alternation of abundance and scarcity. Furthermore, the records indicate that, at 

 least since 1900, these fluctuations with respect to the average number of grouse over regional 

 areas have recurred with considerable regularitv although their periodicitv has not been pre- 

 cise. In general, during this time, a high level of abundance followed by a decline to scarcity 

 has occurred in each decade. The specific years involved, however, have differed between 

 regions. 



The record for the north-central and northeastern United States and Canada, as well as it 

 has been possible to interpret it from available information*, is illustrated in figure 59. The 

 range divisions considered have been states and provinces because the principal sources of 

 data have been official reports and other records in terms of such units. In two instances 

 (Massachusetts-Connecticut and Vermont-New Hampshire) states have been grouped because 

 of their similarity and relatively small size. In these cases the records for certain years con- 



* The data upon wliich this chart is based have been compiled principally from official reports of the several states and provinces 

 as well as from personal letters to the authors from conservation officials in these areas. Use has also been made of the writ- 

 ings of various research workers who have studied the problem. But comments in the literature of purely local conditions have 

 usually been loo few and scattered to be of much value for this purpose. 



