10 REPORT OF MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



them hatched without charge by people who were anxious and willing 

 to help out in this kind of work, so the matter of paying for hatching 

 and raising birds was discontinued. In fact many of those who had 

 raised birds and liberated them, declined pay for it. 



The shipments of the birds purchased for 1921 were commenced in 

 early August and continued until all of the birds purchased had been 

 shipped. Some of these birds were sent to each of the 54 counties of 

 the State. The reports which we later received from them were most 

 gratifying and as the Ringneck is such a splendid addition to our 

 native birds, there is a great demand for them from all parts of the 

 State. 



During the year 1922, 1,500 of these birds were liberated in the 

 State. Some of these birds are being sent to every county in the 

 State. The birds purchased for 1922 were purchased in trios; that is 

 two females to each male, as the Ringneck is polygamous and it was 

 thought by ordering these birds in this proportion, better results could 

 be obtained. Of course, it is too early to see any results from the 

 birds liberated this year, but we have on record many encouraging re- 

 ports from the birds liberated in 1921. and many requests for more 

 of them and it is to be hoped that this kind of work can be kept up 

 and even increased in the State. In addition to purchasing 1,500 

 birds, over 4,000 eggs were purchased and sent out over the State for 

 hatching. Our reports show that about 600 birds were raised and 

 turned loose from this source. 



The Ringneck Is a very splendid game bird. A large cock will 

 weigh about 4 pounds and the meat of these birds is white and not 

 unlike that of our native pheasant. This fact, together with the fact 

 that they are very beautiful in appearance, swift on the wing and 

 can run like an ostrich makes them a very valuable game bird for 

 our State. 



As hereinabove stated, we were unable to secure any Hungarian 

 Partridges for the year 1921, but in 1922 w^e were able to secure 500 

 pair of these Hungarians. These birds were shipped from Central 

 Europe where they are exceedingly plentiful and very popular with 

 the sportsmen. They were shipped in crates, 18 birds being shipped 

 to a crate. The exporter started 1,080 birds to us, to make sure we 

 would receive our full order. Out of the 1,080 birds started us. only 

 17 were lost on the trip across the Atlantic. More, however, were lost 

 in the shipment by express from \ew York to Montana points, but this 

 was to be expected. 



The birds received were sent to 45 of the 54 counties in the State. 

 The reason why these birds were not sent to all of the different 

 counties of the State, was because of the fact that they had been on 

 the way so long, it was thought best to send them to the most direct 

 and accessible places within the State. 



The birds were liberated about the first of May of this year and 

 the reports which we have on them are simply wonderful. There is 

 no doubt but what this bird is going to do well in this State, and from 

 the reports which we have received so far it would seem as though the 

 Hungarian will do better in this state than any other bird which we 

 can import. From the best information which we can obtain, these 

 birds were first liberated in this country about fifteen years ago 

 when better than lOO pair were lil)erated in Spokane county, Wash- 

 ington. The first birds liberated there did not do very well but later 

 a second shipment was received and this second shipment has done 

 far better than was ever expected. From the shipment liberated there 

 in Spokane County, practically the entire State of Washington has 

 been stoiked and they are to be found in that State in some localities 

 by the thousand. 



