56 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



in confinement owing to peculiar habits, and particularly 

 their decided liability to epidemic diseases. 



Ruffed Grouse. Considerable progress has been made 

 with rearing the ruffed grouse, and it is probable that ex- 

 periments with the other species will develop interesting 

 possibilities. Having experimented with the ruffed grouse 

 myself, with some success, and carefully studied its 

 habits and peculiarities under artificial conditions, I shall 

 treat of this species in detail. Dr. C. F. Hodge of 

 Worcester, Massachusetts, was the first to breed ruffed 

 grouse in captivity, followed by F. N. Manross in Con- 

 necticut, who likewise bred them and reared young to 

 maturity. 



Preliminary Notes. Full-grown birds, captured wild, are 

 at first very shy. Personal care, however, can make them 

 in a short time so tame that they will eat out of one's hand. 

 If they are put in a large pen at first/ they remain rather 

 timid, though not long desperately wild. Sometimes it 

 happens that hunters capture specimens alive which are 

 only slightly wounded, and make good breeding-stock. 

 Owing to the laws, dealers are seldom able to supply them. 

 State authorities should permit the capture of limited num- 

 bers of birds by responsible persons who have been successful 

 with pheasants, or the taking of a set of eggs to start a stock. 

 When eggs are taken in the early stages of incubation, the 

 birds will probably produce another litter of eggs, and thus 

 the wild stock will not be diminished. 



A Difficulty. Varied experience has shown that grouse 

 cannot be kept in health protractedly in a small coop or en- 

 closure. The quarters provided must be of considerable 

 size. Even then, unless these are quite large, the birds are 

 likely not to live out their natural term. Lack of exercise 

 makes them unduly fat and brings on troubles which have 



