118 WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



or two days, or any other period. It means absolute 

 immunity from slaughter until the stock has become 

 so great that the increase may be taken. Every 

 species that is struggling to recuperate deserves to 

 be left entirely unmolested, and free from meddle- 

 some management or alleged assistance in the 

 slaughter of the so-called surplus males. To this 

 well-known law of nature we know of not one 

 exception. Every breeding wild animal craves 

 seclusion, entire immunity from excitement, and 

 protection from all forms of persecution. Nature 

 demands this as her unassailable right. 



The methods by which our birds may be encour- 

 aged are very simple. First of all, the gunners, 

 netters, dogs and cats must be eliminated. It is now 

 stated by some men who claim to be versed in fox 

 lore that red foxes destroy very little wild bird life. 

 The claim is certainly worthy of serious considera- 

 tion. In severe winter weather, quail that are strug- 

 gling to reestablish themselves should be abun- 

 dantly fed, and shelters should also be provided. 

 For the perching birds, nest-boxes must be erected, 

 and food offered of kinds suitable to the needs of 

 the various species. For the woodpeckers, nut- 

 hatches, chickadees and other special tree-protec- 

 tors, lumps of suet covered by wire netting, or of 

 fat pork, must be nailed to tree-trunks on the sunny 

 side. The ruffed grouse must sustain themselves, 

 because it is almost impossible to offer them, in a 

 wholesale way, any food that they will accept. 



