GAME-BIRDS 257 



quail species than all the dogs, foxes, minks, and 

 weasels combined. 



As has already been mentioned, the destruction 

 of nests by cultivation has played havoc among 

 the prairie birds. It has also aided materially in 

 decreasing the number of quail. Virtually all 

 game-birds have the unfortunate habit of nesting 

 on the ground. The eggs generally are deposited 

 just about the time the farmer is sharpening his 

 plow-points for the spring plowing, and the nests 

 are turned under, usually without his knowledge 

 of their existence. At harvest time his mowing- 

 machine is ready to catch the later broods. 



Finally, the automobile proves a deadly enemy 

 of destruction. The employment of cars in hunt- 

 ing is a serious menace to the existence of all 

 game. With its power of eating up the miles, a 

 greater number of birds is brought within reach 

 of the gunner than is to be had by walking. The 

 bags of game are increased, and the birds face 

 extinction sooner. Dr. William T. Hornaday 

 states the case quite clearly: 



... I have seen them in action. A load of three 

 or four gunners is whirled up to a likely mountain^side 

 for ruffed grouse, and presently the banging begins. Af- 

 ter an hour or so spent in combing out the birds, the 

 hunters jump in, whirl away in a dust-cloud to another 

 spot two miles away, and ' ' bang- bang-bang ' ' again. Af- 

 ter that, a third locality; and so on, covering six or 



