82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



the island. Mr. William Day, the superintendent in charge of 

 the reservation, believed that there were about 2,000. After 

 the fire the birds were noticeably fewer. The cover was de- 

 stroyed, and the sprouts which grew after the fire produced no 

 acorns, thus reducing the food. There were no leaves on the 

 ground where the birds nest. It was burnt black and swept 

 bare, and both old and young were fully exposed to the attacks 

 of their enemies, which were increased in numbers during the 

 fall and winter by a flight of goshawks, which are enormously 

 destructive to grouse and other birds. In April, 1917, during a 

 survey of the island I could account for only 126 heath hens. 

 The number of males was excessive, and it was apparent that 

 there were less than fifty pairs of these birds left on the island. 

 During the breeding season of 1917 the weather was cold, rainy 

 and unfavorable for the rearing of j'oung. Again, recently, 

 there were indications that another flight of goshawks was on 

 the way from the north. The condition of the heath hen now is 

 precarious, and I have reported to the Commissioners on Fish- 

 eries and Game that the species should have the best of care 

 at once. 



Food of Night Herons. 

 Chairman William C. Adams of the Commissioners on Fish- 

 eries and Game suggested in 1916 that it would be well to ex- 

 amine the food of the night herons of the State, as certain 

 fishermen believed that these birds were destructive to food 

 fishes, and hoped that the law protecting them might be re- 

 pealed. Examination was made of the food of old and young 

 in night heronries on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. The 

 young were very accommodating in presenting the contents of 

 their stomachs to the investigator, without much persuasion. 

 Food elements found consisted mainly of fishes not ordinarily 

 considered of much value as human food. Alewives constituted 

 the greater proportion. On Cape Cod the food consisted largely 

 of squids, which seemed to be very numerous during the sum- 

 mer. These were probably obtained about the fish weirs along 

 the coast. In one case the remains of an eel were found, and in 

 another the remains of a pickerel. This examination was con- 

 ducted through June and July. 



