246 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



of yellowlegs and two of plover alone remain on 

 the shooting list. All the others are compara- 

 tively safe until their original numbers have been 

 regained. And among those that return to our 

 shores each spring and autumn in ever-increasing 

 flocks are the curlew, knot, and willet, three birds 

 which under short open seasons will provide ex- 

 cellent shooting for the sportsmen of the future. 



The Tragedy of the Upland Birds 



Turning now to the true game-birds, as defined 

 by English law, we come to the most important 

 group which inhabits America. Outstanding 

 among them is the wild turkey, the monarch of all 

 game-fowl, and following close after are the 

 grouse, including prairie chickens, and the ptar- 

 migan and quail. 



When the Mayflower anchored off the coast of 

 Massachusetts the wild turkey was to be found 

 throughout all the forested regions of North 

 America east of the Mississippi. But the size of 

 the turkey unfortunately told against it. It was 

 the only game-bird whose bodily proportions war- 

 ranted the expenditure of a charge of powder and 

 a bullet. Its flesh proved delicious and conse- 

 quently was greatly sought after. As a result, 

 even in colonial days, the turkey soon became 

 scarce in the neighborhood of settlements. 



