REPORT OF BOARD OP FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. 23 



fanciers, if the sale were permitted. Mountain quail can probably be 

 successfully raised above elevations of 2,500 feet. Experiments with 

 them below that level have for the most part resulted in failures. 

 Mountain quail have become very scarce throughout the southern end 

 of the State, and in the coast region below San Francisco. In other 

 parts of the State, although sometimes many of them are killed by 

 hard winters, they are about holding their own. 



GROUSE. 



Ruffed grouse are fairly abundant in the extreme northwestern 

 corner of the State. On account of the heavy brush and timber in 

 which the birds are found, they are not hunted extensively. The blue 

 grouse is becoming scarcer, and in all parts of the State where the 

 settlers have engaged in sheep raising, they are almost extinct. 



The sage hen is found only in the eastern part of the State, in the true 

 sagebrush country. They have been greatly reduced where sheep have 

 been ranged. It has been suggested that we endeavor to introduce the 

 sage hen into Imperial County and other places of low elevation. It is 

 probable that no success would be secured from any experiments of 

 this sort, as the sage hen is practically never found below an elevation 

 of 3,000 to 4,000 feet; neither is it found out of the true sagebrush 

 country. The sage hen is our largest native California game bird and 

 it is to be greatly desired that it be kept from extermination. 



DOVES AND PIGEONS. 



Perhaps the most difficult bird we have in the State to arrange a 

 proper season for is the common mourning dove. Breeding records 

 show that January is the only month in which they do not nest. No 

 • bird should be killed during the nesting season. On this account there 

 are many sportsmen who advocate the removal of the dove from the 

 list of game birds. If the proper season cannot be arranged, then this 

 is what should be done. There is very urgent need for the protection 

 of the wild (band-tail) pigeon. This is the slowest breeding game bird 

 in the United States. One egg is the complete set, and probably only 

 one egg is laid the entire year. 



INTRODUCED GAME BIRDS. 



Of the introduced game birds, those which have promised the best 

 results are the ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys. Pheasants 

 have been liberated in various parts of the State where climatic condi- 

 tions and topography were considered adapted to them. In many places 

 very excellent results have been obtained. In Humboldt County, the 

 birds have increased to a remarkable extent. They have also increased 

 in parts of the Santa Clara and San Joaquin vallej^s. It will, however, 

 be several years before the ring-necked pheasant can be considered 

 abundant enough to be placed on the open list. 



Wild turkeys have been liberated in the lower Sierra Nevada region, 

 where they are reported to be doing exceedingly well. Other plants 

 iave been made in San Diego, San Bernardino, Monterey, San Benito, 



