364 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Protective measures. It is certain that bobwhites will never be com- 

 mon in our State withotit protection and encouragement. The southern 

 and western birds which have been imported are not hard}' enough to 

 withstand our winters. In any case it would be well to furnish shelter and 

 food for the birds during the winter months. Then, if they are protected 

 from wandering cats and dogs, and gunners, they will increase until a hardy 

 race is established. The Cooper hawk. Sharp-shinned hawk, and Goshawk 

 should also be kept off the ranges; and, especially during the nesting season, 

 or when the chicks are young, cats should not be allowed to roam the fields. 

 If farmers and landowners generally would unite in these protective measures 

 we feel confident that the Bobwhite would thrive again in New York as 

 he did when our grandfathers were boys. 



Family TEXR AONIL3 AB 



Grouse 



Grouse have the tarsi more or less feathered, at least on the upper 

 forepart. Some, like the ptannigans, have the feet densely feathered to 

 the nails. Those, like the Ruffed grouse, which have the feet naked are 

 provided with a horny, comblike fringe on the sides of the toes. The nasal 

 fossae are feathered; some have a naked, colored spot above the eye, and 

 many a naked patch on the sides of the neck. The colors are subdued and 

 blended. The tail consists of 16 to 20, or 22 feathers. 



This is a family of about 25 species, besides the numerous subspecies, 

 scattered through the holarctic realm, and especialh^ well represented in 

 North America. They are mostly birds of temperate and cold temperate 

 regions, but the ptarmigans live throughout the arctic regions. Every- 

 thing considered, grouse are the choicest game birds we have, like the 

 Black cock and Red grouse of Europe, the Rriffed grouse and Prairie hen 

 of America being famous alike for the sport which they offer in the field 

 and the delicious quality of their flesh. 



