where the boundaries begin or end, and also offers a conspicuous 

 place for the posting of notices, where they will surely be seen, 

 even by the casual observer. The roads or highways also act as 

 safe-guards against the spread of forest fires, and in addition should 

 be cleared of brush on both sides for a space of twenty-five or 

 thirty feet, and have the brush piled and burned at the time pre- 

 scribed by the local fire-warden. 



Woodcock, Ruffed Grouse, Quail, Pheasants, Wild Ducks, 

 Deer and Hares are frequently found within a tract of land em- 

 bracing a thousand acres. All the briery tangles and alder swales 

 should be left undisturbed and their growth encouraged. These 

 retreats are needed by the Ruffed Grouse and other gamebirds 

 when pursued by their winged enemies, conditions that unfor- 

 tunately are lacking in many state reservations, where the under- 

 growth has been so thoroughly removed that no gamebirds can be 

 induced to stay. The forester should leave here and there sizable 

 clumps of tangle, if he wishes these birds to tenant his woodlands. 



Woodcock nest early in the spring season among moist, swampy, 

 hardwood growth, and after the young birds are able to fly well, 

 the entire family resort to the cornfields, where they probe for 

 earthworms about the roots of the corn-stalks. They also visit the 

 lawns and kitchen garden in search of grubs and earthworms. Early 

 in September, the Woodcock seeks the uplands and is found among 

 the birches and huckleberry bushes of the pasture. After the first 

 heavy frost, Woodcock that have bred within the sanctuary move 

 along on their southern migration. There is nothing that can be 

 offered the Woodcock except protection, for it is mainly insectiv- 

 orous in its diet, and as soon as the ground freezes is compelled 

 to leave its summer haunts. 



Of all our upland gamebirds, none is more widely known or 

 has more sincere admirers than the Ruffed Grouse, and no other 

 gamebird has the like robust constitution or the ability to with- 

 stand the rigor of our New England winters. Its habits are such 

 that it is enabled to obtain a plentiful supply of food during the 

 deep snows of winter, when the Quail and Pheasant, being ground 

 feeders, and dependent upon the supply of seeds and nuts, would 

 perish of starvation. After the fall of snow, Grouse feed upon the 

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