DESTRUCTION AND PROTECTION 551 



insect and weed seed destruction will amply repay farm- 

 ers for their work. 



"As spring comes on the cocks fight a good deal; 

 but still breeders generally advise keeping several 

 pairs in the same cage. I tried both methods this 

 season, keeping four pairs in the same cage (6 by 12 

 feet) through May and June. They laid well under 

 these conditions, but there was so much disturbance 

 and persecution that there was little hope of either 

 hens or cocks beginning to brood. Each pair was then 

 given a separate cage, and they did so much better 

 that this plan will be generally adopted in future." 



Professor Hodge gives various suggestions replying 

 to many inquiries that have come to him, as to practical 

 methods of rearing bobwhite. What he has said, how- 

 ever, applies equally to the ruffed grouse and prob- 

 ably to the prairie chicken as well. The results which 

 he has obtained in six years of experiment will appear 

 to most people very gratifying and very encouraging 

 to further experimentation in- this field. He very truly 

 says: 



"We now see clearly that we must bid farewell to 

 all our native game birds or work out methods of 

 propagating them." 



Besides the birds in question Professor Hodge ex- 

 perimented with a pair of sharp-tail grouse from the 

 Saskatchewan. The birds did very well and Professor 

 Hodge discovered that they were exceedingly fond of 

 clover. No doubt if he had given them alfalfa they 

 would have eaten it with still greater relish, since, in 



