14 WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



beyond which it can not recover and come back. 

 When birds are few and widely scattered, their 

 natural enemies easily prevent their increase; and 

 from that point the tendency is downward, until 

 extinction is reached. 



In 1913, after persistent entreaties and far too 

 long delay, the state of New York accorded her 

 miserable remnant of quail a five-year close season. 

 Now the question is, Has the species reached so 

 low a condition that its natural enemies and winter's 

 severities will be able to prevent its recovery, as 

 happened with the heath-hen? The friends of the 

 quail hope that the relief from persecution has not 

 come too late; but it is extremely probable that in 

 many localities of New York the much-beloved 

 and exceedingly beneficial bob-white is extinct 

 forever. 



Let the college men of America carry this mes- 

 sage to every American sportsman and lawmaker 

 throughout the length and breadth of the land. 

 Say to them: "Beware! A point can be reached 

 by a vanishing species beyond which it can not 

 recover, and long close seasons are in vain. Do 

 not delay until that fatal point has been passed. 

 Restocking barren covers by importing quail is a 

 delusion and a snare. The Hungarian partridge 

 is a failure, and it can not be made to take the place 

 of our own grouse and quail. Give every en- 

 dangered species a five-year close season. Do it at 



