126 



REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



After several hens had lost their entire broods within a period of a few 

 days, all of the eggs in the pens were gathered regularly and set in 

 incubators. The ducklings were given to domestic hens to rear. If 

 we had expected to operate this season necessary preparations would 

 have been made for the proper handling of these birds. As it was, too 

 many were confined together. One of the very peculiar features of 

 these birds was brought out this past season when one shoveler out of 

 a total of twenty hens that we have had for three years nested and 



Fig. 74. Black-taikd deer at State Game Farm, Hayward, California. 

 Photograph by Theodore Kytka. 



hatched for the first time. None of the other species of ducks have 

 nested. We have successfully retained several fulvous tree-ducks on 

 the farm for the past two years. These birds have attracted a great 

 deal of interest. 



Deer. 

 Several black-tailed deer which were on the farm for a number of 

 years were disposed of in the fall of 1912. Since that time two deer 

 of the same species have been secured and have found a home on the 

 farm. One of these, a spotted fa^^■n, has been successfully reared on a 

 bottle. A Mexican white-tailed deer fawn has been the only other 

 addition to our stock of game mammals. 



Kespectfully submitted. 



(Signed) Wm. N. Dirks, 

 Superintendent State Game Farm. 



