540 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
American grouse. These birds, so reared in their 
natural ranges and then set free in refuges, would re- 
stock covers now barren. The process of restocking 
could be kept up indefinitely, and after a time at a very 
modest cost. If one-half as much time and money 
had been expended in attempts to domesticate or hand- 
rear some of our native species as has been devoted to 
the importation and rearing of exotic forms, the prob- 
lem of our game supply would now be much simpler 
than it is. 
With the Limicoline birds the case is somewhat dif- 
ferent. No experience has been had with them, and 
nothing is known about confining them or inducing 
them to breed in confinement. On the other hand, as 
migratory birds they are exposed to the gunner only 
for a short time, and then pass on to sections less 
thickly settled, and where, therefore, the dangers are 
less. 
In the United States most of the efforts to rear game 
birds have been devoted to foreign species, but to this 
rule the State of Massachusetts is a notable exception. 
On its public game farm it has for several years con- 
sistently tried to rear quail and ruffed grouse, and 
though not altogether successful, much experience has 
been gained. 
It was left to another Massachusetts man, Dr. Clif- 
ton F. Hodge, working from pure love of his task, to 
accomplish the greatest results. 
The work done by the Massachusetts Commissioners 
of Fisheries and Game, and by Dr. Hodge, is set forth 
