Monthly Bulletin 7 



A MODEL SANCTUARY 



Unique Country Club That Serves Scientists and Wild Life Alike 



There is a club in the country near Washington which niunbers among 

 its habitues representatives of nearly all the tribes of wild animals and birds 

 found in that part of the country. Rabbits, grouse and foxes, raccoons and 

 opossums, all enjoy a sort of associate membership — that is, they are wel- 

 come to the premises, and are not disturbed. 



This club was founded by a number of Washington biologists some 

 years ago, and is located on the upper Potomac. Its property consists of 

 50 acres of wild land, including an island in the river, and a log cabin which 

 the members use as a headquarters when pursuing their investigations. The 

 place is carefully protected from trespassers by friendly neighbors, when 

 none of the members are present. 



The purpose of the scientists in founding this club was to make a study 

 of every form of life which occurs upon a typical tract of land in that part 

 of the country. Among the members of the club are specialists in almost 

 all branches of biology. They have already investigated everything from 

 the minute algae of the river water to the large quadrupeds which occasion- 

 ally visit the premises. 



To the layman 50 acres seems altogether too small an area for such a 

 study; but the scientists selected the site for their club with care. It in- 

 cludes slopes with exposures to the east, west, north and south, sandy soil 

 and clay, dry knolls, a bit of swamp, heavy forest and cultivated land. Thus 

 it offers to visiting and resident wild thipgs every sort of food and shelter 

 which the region affords, and, in addition, it gives them protection from 

 gunners. As a result, two coveys of quail have made it their permanent resi- 

 dence, as have many rabbits and squirrels, while ruffed grouse visit the 

 place every fall. One of them was once found sitting on the porch of the 

 club-house. And this place is only a few miles from a great city, and one 

 mile from a noisy amusement park. 



The biologists are here able to make studies of the habits of wild 

 birds and animals extending over several years. For example. Dr. A. K. 

 Fisher of the Biological Survey has been trying for some time to solve a 

 problem in the breeding habits of the bob-white. Each summer two broods 

 are raised at the club, and in the autumn there are sometimes nearly 30 

 birds on the tract. Some of these stray off and are killed by gunners, and 

 some die of cold in the winter, but generally about half of them survive until 

 spring. At that time, however, all disappear except two pair, which again 

 rear their broods. Although hundreds of the birds have been produced 

 and protected on the place in the last few years, never more than four nest 

 there. The birds seems to understand that there are only housekeeping ac- 

 comodations for two families, and that all the rest must emigrate when the 

 mating season arrives. How they decide, which shall go and which remain 



