THE NATURAL COVER METHOD OF RAISING GROUSE 453 



"all-purpose" pen hereafter described is quite adaptable to this purpose. To prevent injury 

 the birds may be wing-clipped. To inhibit constant tra\elin2 up and down along the sides of 

 the pen, called "walking of the wire"' it is wise to co\er the outside of the pen with burlap 

 or other material for a distance of a foot above the floor. The feeding equipment may be 

 placed in one corner under a shelter. If a few evergreen boughs are placed at one end the 

 birds will s])end the greater ])roportion of their time in the co\er thus provided. 



T<j avoid difficulties in adjustment at the breeding period it is well to place the birds in 

 breeding pens as soon as they are received, although Spring may still be some months away. 

 This should be done not later than the first of March in the latitude of New York State. 

 Among 15 wild-trapped birds placed mostly in |)airs in semi-natural enclosures during early 

 April 1931, no mating was observed. The following year ten wild-trapped females. similarU 

 confined in December, laid a total of 41 eggs. 26 of which were fertile. 



Though from one to five females may be jilarcd \\ilh a single male, it is obviously desirable 

 to maintain a pair to a pen so that the ])rogen\ of each bird can be rccngnized and a |)ro- 

 gram of selective breeding started without loss of time. A small nest box |)ro\ided with a 

 little dry grass for nesting material should also be included in the pen. Ihe female may 

 retire into this if chased by her mate. The eggs, laid there or at random on th<' wire, may be 

 removed when desired without affecting tot;d egg production. 



The care and feeding nl these birds is similar li> ihal later di'.-rribcd [or luinil-rai:-i'(l 

 breeders pcinicrl al llic same season of the \car. 



Wild birds are mor<' likely to mate and la\ iliiririg llic s<'(()n(l ywv in rapli\il\. llowexer 

 a certain ])rop(irlion will alwavs remain lam,' but nnpiiMlucti\e. 



Till. \ VTIKAL COVF.H METHOD or 1! \1SI\G CROLSE 



In adapting an\ species to ca|)ti\ ity. the first thought is to place it under conditions as 

 nearly similar to its nati\e habitat as possible. It is small wonder that Clark ' in lo79, ])Ut 

 four wild partridges, collected in llic fall, in a circular enclosure 10 feet in diameter with 

 walls 5 feet high covered by a conical tcni. In il he set out close clumps of young pines and 

 firs and covered the ground with dry forest lea\es. One of the birds subsequently nested and 

 laid 18 eggs. 



Others, too. had the same idea. It will be remembered* that, to jirovide his breeders with 

 natural wintering habitat. Hodge'"' some 30 years later completely co\ered a large spruce tree 

 with poultrv netting in the front yard of his home. Two of the birds placed therein were 

 snagged by cats through the inch-mesh wire of the enclosure and died of their wounds. The 

 rest were poisoned. The American Game Piotective Association, in 1912. established a 

 grouse farm on (]a])e Cod. and Torrev"' luiilt there a wintering and breeding pen of fish net- 

 ting resembling a circus tent. This was placed so as to enclose a heavy growth of young 

 pines. But disease and predation forced the abandonment of the idea after a year's trial. On 

 the other hand, in Manitoba. Rendick'" for years sold grouse said to have been reared from 

 eggs laid In wild birds held captive in a large enclosure. 



Between 1919 and 1929 Dr. Allen" repeatedly tried to raise young birds in pens containing 

 natural cover. Breeders, too. were thus confined, but few escaped the ravages of "enteritis", 

 jiredators and unfavorable weather conditions. 



Still not satisfied, the Investigation, in 1931, Iniilt a series of covered pens enclosing several 



* See Chapter I. p. 23. 



