OTHER FOREIGN GALLINACEOUS SPECIES 93 



Europe, usually known in this country as the Hungarian 

 partridge, because most of the stock imported came to us 

 from the region of Hungary. A great many thousands have 

 been liberated in various states, from Atlantic to Pacific, 

 at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, with very Httle 

 thus far to show for it. The species is a valuable one, and 

 it may yet take hold, as some encouraging reports have 

 come in. 



Experience of Rogers. The case was put to me as follows 

 by Harry T. Rogers, who, for the States of New York and 

 Illinois, has liberated thousands of them. In his experience, 

 though they frequently bred for a couple of seasons, he says 

 that about half of them disappeared after the first breeding 

 season, half of the remainder the second year, and the third 

 year they were all gone. 



Unfavourable Habits. This is not altogether due to 

 foolish modes of Hberating, but evidently to the habits of 

 the bird. Here is a typical case: C. H. Savage, of Storrs, 

 Connecticut, in 191 1 had one pair on his farm with a brood 

 of young. These were seen frequently feeding in open fields 

 on a hilltop, where they were quite conspicuous. Their 

 first mishap was when three or four of them flew into a 

 wire fence, were more or less hurt, and one was so crippled 

 that it had to be killed. The others remained about, and 

 disappeared one by one, till in October there were said to be 

 only three left. Apparently they were an easy mark for 

 hawks and vermin. Comparing them with the bob-white, 

 in confinement, the quail hides upon the approach of danger, 

 while the partridge runs off squawking, thus exposing itself. 

 ~ Lack of Natural Food. The food supply may be another 

 important factor. Our Eastern farmers now plant very 

 little small grain, and the average farm in winter affords 

 scant food supply. The lands from which these partridges 



