50 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



come to be considered one of the main factors in all programs of restock- 

 ing where native game birds have given way to the inroads of civiliza- 

 tion and the activities of agriculture. The prairie chicken and sage 

 hen, once numerous in all our western states, have faded from the 

 picture, and it is very doubtful if they will ever be brought back. In 

 their places are now found the pheasant and the partridge. 



California's program of game bird propagation includes a very 

 comprehensive scheme and the groundwork has been laid for the pro- 

 duction of those birds that will best meet the needs of the sportsmen. 

 To this end birds have been selected that will fit into all kinds of cli- 

 matic and topographic conditions as found in the State. 



THE MEXICAN BRONZE TURKEY 



Each year many California sportsmen go to Arizona, New Mexico, 

 as well as old Mexico, to engage in their particular sport of turkey 

 hunting. This sport ranks with deer hunting and by many is con- 

 sidered superior. Contrary to common belief these wary birds are not 

 easily bagged, but require skill on the part of the hunter. Their long 

 legs as well as their strong wings provide the means of escape. The 

 eyesight of a turkey is very keen. Stalking them is a difficult matter 

 and the real turkey hunter resorts to mimicry to get his bird. Turkey 

 hunting requires time and unlimited patience together with a high 

 degree of skill. 



Because of the similarity in general conditions of habitat, Cali- 

 fornia has selected the Mexican bronze turkey for its stocking pro- 

 gram. Much of California territory is identical with Arizona and 

 Mexican conditions and the progress already made with the introduc- 

 tion of these birds bears out the wisdom of this selection. The Virginia 

 turkey, a smaller bird, whose natural habitat is the swampy areas of the 

 Atlantic states would hardly meet California requirements. The same 

 would be true of the Florida bird whose habitat is the Everglades of 

 that Gulf State. The fourth native wild turkey, the Rio Grande form, 

 would possibly come the nearest to fitting into our climatic conditions, 

 but breeding stock of this species is not available. 



CALIFORNIA VALLEY QUAIL 



The plumed knight of the chaparral needs no introduction to 

 California sportsmen. His gameness is never questioned and he meets 

 the troubles of his time like the grand little fighter he is. 



A special effort is now being made to rehabilitate this fine game- 

 ster by producing them in numbers on our game farms, providing 

 closed areas where they may breed and multiply naturally, and the 

 bringing back in certain localities the water conditions that have spelled 

 their defeat in many instances. Every effort, not only by the Division 

 of Fish and Game, but by interested individuals and sportsmen's 

 clubs, is being put forth to make conditions better in every section of 

 the State for the valley quail. Much has been said and written in 

 the past few years regarding the Bob White and its value to game 

 propagation programs. But little has been said about the valley quail, 

 and yet it is recognized by game breeders who know its possibilities 

 as a far superior bird to the Bob White. For a long time it was thought 



