540 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



the increase in numbers comes more slowly, and the bird may 

 never equal its former abundance. 



In 1895 nearly all the Bluebirds of New England were 

 destroyed by a great storm and cold wave in the south; but 

 as they were protected by law at all times they became about 

 as plentiful as ever a few years later, while the Woodcock, 

 which was less affected by the freeze, but is shot in all the 

 States, hardly has begun to approach its former numbers. 



Every gunner knows that forest fires during the nesting 

 season are destructive to game birds. This may be remedied 

 by the public care of our woodlands, better protection against 

 fires and the electrification of all our railroads. One of the 

 chief sources of forest fires in this country is the coal-burning 

 locomotive. 



Epidemic Diseases. 



There are rumors of disease among the Ruffed Grouse and 

 Bob-white, and occasionally some disease appears among wild- 

 fowl. A few years ago an epidemic was reported among wild- 

 fowl on the St. Lawrence River, and now (1910) we are told 

 that a disease exists in Utah which is said to affect Geese and 

 Ducks of all kinds, the smaller Herons, the Plover, Snipe 

 and nearly all birds. This disease was first noticed in the feed- 

 ing grounds near or bordering the Great Salt Lake, and has 

 gradually increased and progressed until the infected area in- 

 cludes the entire Salt Lake valley, and the infection includes 

 practically all the birds there. 



In a letter received by Forest and Stream from Dr. W. R. 

 Stewart he says, "our native birds are practically all dead." 

 This refers to birds of all kinds; even chickens that were fed 

 on the viscera of dead Ducks died by hundreds. The infection 

 is a diarrhoea or cholera, with a watery discharge from the 

 eyes during its latter stages, and ends fatally in a few days. 

 When sick birds were put in clean pens and given clean food 

 and water most of them recovered.^ 



This disease is believed to be what is commonly known as 

 Duck cholera, which often affects domesticated water-fowl 



' Stewart, \V. R.: Forest and Stream, October 15, 1910, Vol. Ixxv, No. 16, pp. 616, 617. 



