THE SCARCITY OF RUFFED GROUSE IN 1907. 383 



in localities where there was plenty of water to be had all through the 

 summer. The dryness, however, may have produced a condition favor- 

 able to the growth and spread of an infectious disease or parasite, and 

 for that reason may be considered a secondary cause of the scarcity. 



5. The theory that an epidemic of a disease of some kind carried off 

 the ruffed grouse is supported by many, but is difficult to prove or disprove 

 at this time. There can be no question that an epidemic of some kind killed 

 manv birds during the summer months, as may be judged from the testi- 

 mony given below, but whether it was a disease or a parasite, or both, 

 is now difficult to determine. In fact, much of the data given below might 

 apply equally well to the parasitical theory. 



Cattaraugus county, N. Y. — Three old birds were found dead on nest. 



Greene county, N. Y. — (a) " Early in the season partridges were 

 numerous and are now very scarce. All birds that are being killed are 

 old ones. There does not seem to be any young ones. * * * The 

 young die about two-thirds grown, and must have died from a contagious 

 disease, as there were four or five found on one-fifth acre of ground, all 

 appearing to have died about the same time and all seemed to look as if 

 they had died from the same disease, as their heads had turned blue, 

 feathers were all ruffed up, and a yellowish discharge from the vent. This 

 is one out of many just such reports." — (D. C. Speenburgh, Hunter, N. Y., 

 game protector.) 



(b) — " We met a fellow-sportsman who had hunted three days in 

 Greene county, where there generally are plenty of birds, and had given 

 up in disgust. He said that the birds had died off in the late summer from 

 a sickness similar to blackhead in turkeys, the natives having found the 

 bodies in the woods." — (Trojan, in Forest and Stream, December 14, 1907.) 



Rockland county, N. Y. — •" Fourteen young and one old partridge 

 found dead in a bunch and in another place six were found dead " (see 

 parasitical theory). — (I. E. Mather, Haverstraw, N. Y.) 



Schoharie county, X. Y. — "Seven dead chicks found dead close to 

 nest." 



Tioga county, N. Y. — "I have also heard of a farmer who * * * 

 found three dead partridges (about November 1st) which had the appear- 

 ance of being dead for at least a month. The consensus of opinion in this 



