4i6 



Bird - Lore 



Though it was generally a bad season, owing to the incessant rains and the 

 spreading invasion by myriads of rose-chafers, poisonous to young birds, we 

 were able to bring to maturity about eleven hundred young Pheasants, besides 

 a number of other species. Total sales, all for purposes of liberation and re- 

 stocking, amounted to $3,000, and we also retained several hundred dollars' 

 worth of stock for next year's breeding. 



This season we resumed our work with Quails, breeding the Bob-white and 

 the California Valley Quail in a small way. We hatched two broods and raised 

 most of these birds to maturity. It is interesting to note that from our past 

 breeding and releasing we had, last winter, on the Preserve a fine covey of 

 fourteen Valley Quail in the wild state, coming to feed regularly at one of the 

 barns, showing that this introduced species can survive New England winters. 

 These have now been maintained for at least three years in freedom, originally 

 from young birds which we raised, so it is possible that the species may increase. 



In our work with water-fowl, this year, we raised Redheads and Wood 

 Ducks. That there is especial interest in breeding the latter species is shown 

 by the fact that they are in demand, even at $35 a pair. It also indicates that, 

 by present methods, they are not easy to raise. We are evolving a new method 

 for quantity production which we plan to try out in full next season, as also 

 the breeding and rearing of the Gray or 'Hungarian' Partridge of Europe, with 

 which Mr. Bowden has had long experience. Work with the smaller birds has 

 been continued, as before, and the bird-boxes have been abundantly occupied 



VIEW FROM FRONT PORCH OF NEW HEADWATERS, AMSTON, CONN. 

 Photographed by Herbert K. Job 



