18 GAME BIBBS OF CALIFORNIA 



is known, but good sanitary surroundings appear to be a preventative. 

 There are no recorded instances of the disease becoming epidemic 

 among wild birds in this state. Although quail and other game birds 

 are often infested with tape worms and round worms, these parasites 

 seldom, if ever, cause death directly. 



The array of evidence above given shows beyond question that 

 waterfowl and upland game birds have both on the average decreased 

 by fully one-half within the past forty years. Very likely the reduc- 

 tion totals much more in many individual species. Obviously, from 

 the nature of the data which we have been able to assemble, accurate 

 estimates of comparative population are now impossible to give. Cer- 

 tain it is, that one game species has totally disappeared from its former 

 range in California — the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, in the Modoc 

 region. The Trumpeter Swan, if it ever occurred here in sufficient 

 numbers to rank as of game value, must, also be set down as vanished. 

 Some other waterfowl and shore birds, which are so seriously depleted 

 as to warrant alarm as to their persistence, are the Wood Duck, Ring- 

 necked Duck, Redhead, Mountain Plover, and Long-billed Curlew. 



The causes of this decrease are many and diverse, but all are 

 due in last analysis to the settlement of the state by the white man. 

 Some of these factors, such as excessive hunting and sale of game, are 

 subject to control ; but others, such as reclamation of land, and over- 

 head wires, are inevitable. The reduction in natural enemies by man's 

 agency is a factor favorable to some game birds. But this must not 

 be overemphasized ; hunting has intensified the decrease far beyond 

 any balancing compensation from this factor. The game supply of 

 the future must rely upon correct inductions based upon careful study 

 of the entire problem, and final adoption of those means which it is 

 found feasible to employ. 



