SPECIAL TECHNIQUES 



713 



REMAINS OF ADULT GROUSE KILLED BY AN ACCEPITRINE HAWK (PROBABLY COOP- 

 ER's) SHOWING HEAD STILL ATTAGHED TO CARCASS, FEMUR PICKED CLEAN BUT 



not fractured. and gizzard uneaten 



Determining Effect of Hunting 



The proportion of birds taken by the gun and its efFeit on prouse populations has always 

 been a debatable subject. To collect evidence on this a hunting check was established and used 

 in 1930, 1931, and again in 1936. On the first trial the areas under observation were posted 

 with signs asking the hunters' cooperation and giving instructions. Shellacked envelopes con- 

 taining printed postal cards were nailed beneath the posters. The hunters were asked to fill 

 in and return the questionnaires to the Investigation. 



The following year, instead of ])ostal cards, blank spaces for names and addresses were left 

 on the posters. Personal visits to obtain information were then made to those who cooper- 

 ated. 



Both of the above methods were dropped when it became apparent that children or un- 

 thinking sportsmen did not cooperate but destroyed or defaced the envelopes or posters. 



In 1936. with the aid of CCC labor, a method of checking hunters in and out of an area 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE ON OPPOSITE PAGE. 



a. Red fox — showing < hiinuterislic nwnrier oi biting 



into egg from side bnt not crushing it 

 greatly. 



b. Rarcoon — charaeterislirally bites into end of eg^ 



(upper row) hut sometimes quite similar 

 to fox (lotver row). 



c. Skunk — showing high degree to which shells are 



crushed. 



d. Weasel — showing typical fine chewing of edge oj 



shell along longitudinal axis. 



e. Mink — similar to weasel but somewhat coarser. 



f. Crow — showing "pecked" nature of holes in 



shell. 



g. Crow — showing outward pipping on opposite 



side. 



