352 With Rod and Gun in New England 



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The Virginia partridge, or quail, is another valuable game bird, one 

 that is prized by many sportsmen almost as highly as is the ruffed grouse. 

 It is now quite abundant in most sections of the State, particularly in 

 Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol counties. 



In many localities, in consequence of the persistency of gunners and 

 the severe winters, it was almost extirpated, and if no effort had been 

 made to protect it, the species would now undoubtedly be rarely met with 

 in this Commonwealth. 



An important factor in its increase and preservation has been the 

 work of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Association. That 

 organization has not only done much to secure the enactment and enforce- 

 ment of wise game laws, but it has expended large sums of money in pur- 

 chasing many hundreds of valuable game birds which it has distributed all 

 over the State. 



The Boston Herald, in commenting on this important work, said : 



" Great gunning is in store for Massachusetts hunters, if the im- 

 portations of the Game Protective Association now on the road only thrive. 



" Whatever the result, those who care for the sport the breech-loader 

 and dog afford, owe a debt of gratitude to those gentlemen who are making 

 the experiment. If, therefore, in years to come the nerves of the hunter 

 in this State are pleasantly stirred by the whir of the sharptail or the 

 merry pipe of the California quail, let him remember who imported those 

 fine game birds and brought them from the blizzard-swept prairie to add 

 to the attractions of the old Bay State. 



" Nine hundred and fifty prairie chickens from Nebraska are to be 

 turned into Plymouth and Barnstable counties, which appears to be the 

 most favorable locality in the State for an initial trial. A very near 

 relative of that bird exists to-day on the island of Martha's Vineyard — 

 the heath hen. So like is it to the prairie hen that only an expert can tell 

 the one from the other. 



" When the Mayflower first startled the natives by landing its passen- 

 gers on Plymouth Rock, the heath hen existed upon the mainland. It was, 

 however, only of local occurrence, and has long ago been exterminated 

 everywhere in New England except upon the island aforesaid, where it is 

 rigorously protected by the law. 



" Although so like in appearance, its habits are essentially different 

 from the western prairie chicken, it being more partial to the brush than 

 the pinnated grouse. 



" The bird now being imported is a handsome fellow, weighing two and 

 three-fourths pounds when mature, and being unexcelled as a table bird. 

 It is abundant in Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska, in which States 

 it is of the greatest service to the farmer, living largely on the grasshopper. 

 September 1 is early enough to shoot this grouse, and it then affords fine 

 sport. 



