The Present Status of the Heath Hen 



357 



'M- 



A FIRKSTOP 



cast' of Bob-white, l)ut llu' ])at- 

 tern of the juvenul i)kima<j;e is 

 closely similar to that of the 

 adult. 



In order to localize the birds 

 as much as possible, so that 

 they may be the better pro- 

 tected, we have developed a 

 large farm where the typical 

 farm crops are grown for the 

 purpose of furnishing a suitable 

 environment for attracting the birds. Much of the grain, sunllowers and 

 fruits are left unharvested. The fields to which the birds are the most 

 attracted are tracts of field-corn, where at the last cultivation crimson or 

 Italian clover is sown. The combination of a wilderness of dried corn-stalks- 



with clover is the most satis- 

 factory environment. 



To secure the maintenance 

 of these birds for all time, it is 

 necessary to acquire at least 

 five thousand acres of land, and 

 the effort is now being made to 

 secure them. The situation has 

 been well stated by our State 

 ornithologist, E. H. Forbush, 

 w'ho says: 



"The history of the Heath 

 Hen in Massachusetts shows clearly the inelYectiveness of partial and belated 

 legislation, and the effectiveness of the reservation plan, backed by law 

 enforcement, to save a species in imminent danger of extinction. If we expect 

 to preserve the Heath Hen and increase its numbers, however, we must do 

 very much more than we have 

 yet done to that end. More 

 wardens or game-keepers must 

 be employed ; other state reser\a- 

 tions must be secured, and the 

 birds introduced and protected 

 upon them until it becomes pos- 

 sible to exchange birds between 

 different localities and thus add 

 new vigor to the breeding stock . 

 All the money expended by 

 the state authorities in rearing a food-lane 



SUMMER HAUNTS OF THE HEATH HEN 

 Pointing to the nest 



