386 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 



'14 young and 1 old partridge found dead in a bunch, and in another 

 place 6 were found dead — all with a tick (?) in their heads." 



W. T. D., Brooklyn, N. Y., writes in Forest and Stream, December 28, 

 1907: " One bird * * * had, buried in its skull, a grub-like parasite 

 which had bored in close by the eye." 



John W. Babbitt, Derry, N. H., writes in Forest and Stream, December 

 28, 1907: "I did shoot two young partridges out of one flock, in the 

 cavities of which I found white worms, some 3 or 4 inches in length. Other- 

 wise they seemed to be smart and in good condition." 



Mr. G. Ernest Hubbard of Middletown, Conn., found a long white 

 worm in the intestines of each one of twenty-nine birds shot. 



Prof. James W. Tourney, Yale Forest School, New Haven, Conn., 

 writes: " So far as my observation goes, the birds shot have been in good 

 condition and I do not believe that parasites have been any more disastrous 

 than in other years." 



There is enough evidence to prove that many birds were infected with 

 a parasite, but nothing to prove that this would have been fatal to them. 

 The birds found dead by Mr. Mather may have died from some other causes 

 (e. g., disease) as was found to be the case in the grouse disease of England 

 and Scotland. 



7. The theory that the ruffed grouse were killed by " ticks " is sup- 

 ported by many. 



The tick (Olfersia americana) is an external winged parasite belonging 

 to the fly family (Diptera) , and which infests hawks, owls and grouse. 



Mr. A. C. Hurlburt, Providence, R. I., writes in Forest and Stream, 

 November 16, 1907: " The scarcity of grouse being accounted for by the 

 long period of drought during which the ticks nourished to such an extent 

 as to almost exterminate the birds. * * * The spring hatch was a good 

 one and the chicks were not hampered by severe weather, and had it not 

 been for the inroads of the parasites, excellent bags would have been 

 made." 



Mr. I. E. Mather, Haverstraw, Rockland county, N. Y., in a second 

 letter states: ' I find out it is a tick or a flea with wings, that has 

 destroyed lots of young partridges and their mothers, found in bunches, 

 old and young dead. Lots of these fleas on them during the summer." 



