6 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 41 (1948) 



RUFFED GROUSE: — Except in a few localities where recovery has already com- 

 menced, the Ontario grouse population is at the lowest point of its natural periodic 

 cycle. The population is repeating exactly the pattern of ten years ago, and there is 

 no reason to doubt that recovery will follow in due course. 



SHARP-TAILED GROUSE:— Sharp-tailed grouse, found in northern and western 

 Ontario, are at a low ebb in their cycle of numbers. A small number of this species 

 has become established in the area east of Sault Ste. Marie. 



HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE:— This species is not native to Ontario. Their existence in 

 the Province has resulted from the planting in certain sections of birds imported into 

 the Province. They are to be found principally in the southwestern counties of Essex and 

 Kent, and in the Counties of Dundas, Russell and Stormont in southeastern Ontario. 



PHEASANTS: — During the past ten years efforts to re-stock this species in suitable 

 portions of the Province have varied from the practice which was prevalent earlier. 

 Previously it had been the policy to supply settings of eggs from the Bird Farm operated 

 by the Department to those who were sufficiently interested in the work to hatch the 

 eggs, raise the product thereof, and release the birds in localities in which environment 

 suitable to the welfare of the birds prevailed. Today and for the past few years the 

 Bird Farms have been operated under private control, and the poults produced have 

 been obtained by the Department from the operators. The birds thus provided have been 

 liberated under the supervision of Departmental officers principally in the townships 

 established as Regulated Game Preserve Areas and in the Counties of Essex and Kent. 

 Details of this distribution as carried out during the year now under review are in 

 accordance with the following statistical table: 



COUNTY 



TOWNSHIP 



POULTS ADULTS TOTAL 



HENS COCKS 



1245 



1320 



210 



855 



375 



80 



80 



16 



16 



726 



471 



