AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



20I 



ed up one hundred birds,, we did not start up five. Added to these two 

 causes for its diminuation in numbers, must be added a third, i. e., the 

 destruction done by foxes. A number of years ago there were no foxes 

 on the Island, but some one thought it would be a good thing to have fox 

 hunts and introduced them. This bird being an easy prey for the fox, a 

 great many were undoubtedly destroyed by this animal. 



Since 1894 these birds have been very few in number compared with 

 the years previous, and in 1897 they had practically been exterminated or 

 died out. The Fall of that year, 1 went over the ground again and in one 

 week's time, with good dogs to locate any birds there might be, I did not 

 start a single bird. 



HEATH HENS. 

 In the Spring of 1898 two mated pairs of western prairie chickens that 

 had been on exhibition in the Boston Sportsmen's Show, were liberated 

 by one of the local sportsmen on the Island. This I am positive of, be- 

 cause I am well acquainted with the man who liberated the birds, and 

 others who saw them. These birds have undoubtedly bred, for in the 

 Fall of that year two broods of young birds were located in the region 

 where the prairie chickens were liberated. The old birds were also seen 

 at various times through the summer in the same locality. Since that 

 time they seem to be gradually gaining in numbers, though they are very 

 few but it is undoubtedly owing to the introduction of these Western birds 

 and their interbreeding with the few that were left. 



Chas. E. Hoyle, W. MiUbury. Mass. 



