288 BIRDS L\ THEIR RELATION TO MAN. 



woods. But it is perfectly feasible for owners of adjoining 

 farms, if they are so minded, to combine their properties into 

 preserves that would accomplish everything. A tract of land 

 comprising ten or a dozen average farms, thus set apart by 

 mutual consent as a section where no birds should be killed, 

 would become a reservoir, the overflow from which would 

 afford excellent sport in the surrounding region. Birds would 

 not only become more abundant, but the danger of extermi- 

 nation would be out of the question. 



In Bird Lore, June, 1901, Mr. Willard G. Van Name, of New 

 Haven, Connecticut, gives an account of a preserve of this sort 

 that has proved all that was hoped for it. This preserve, 

 comprising between one and two square miles of farm- and 

 woodland, is in the vicinity of New Haven. It was organized 

 by Mr. E. Knight Sperry, of that city. Mr. Sperry first 

 obtained permission to try the experiment from the seven or 

 eight owners of tlie land, on condition that neither he nor 

 they should shoot there, and that he should bear all expenses, 

 while they were to enforce prohibition. The chief expense 

 was for signs forbidding shooting. A few quail were turned 

 loose each year, though it is now thought that was unneces- 

 sary. Ruffed grouse were left to increase as they could. 

 Small patches of wheat or buckwheat were sown to keep the 

 quail from starving or wandering in search of food during the 

 winter. Almost immediately an increase was noticed, and 

 soon the birds became very abundant on the preserve, and 

 now there is good shooting on the neighboring farms where 

 formerly very few birds were to be had. The land-owners 

 are so w^ell pleased with the plan that none have withdrawn 

 from the compact, although they are all at liberty to do so at 

 any time. 



It is well known .that both quail and grouse prefer to live 

 either on or near cultivated land, where food is abundant. 

 Farmers might easily combine in this way, thereby affording 

 better sport for themselves, or increasing the attractions of 



