6 Miscellaneous Circular 36, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



6 more were sent from Mr. Blaziers ranch in Alberta, and of these 

 1 survives. Of the three shipments, therefore, of 27 antelope, but 5 

 are still alive. It is encouraging to note, however, that the natural 

 increase of these 5 brought the Wichita band up to 17 head by 1924, 

 and these are apparently in good health (fig. 3). Three pairs of 

 twins were born in 1923 and this record was repeated in 1924. This 

 little band of antelope constitutes one of the most appealing features 

 of the entire game preserve. In spite of the fact that many authori- 

 ties have held that it is impossible to develop a herd of this rapidly 

 disappearing species in captivity, there is reason to hope that success 

 will finally crown the effort being made with the little Wichita band. 



Fig. 3. — The antelope herd now numbers 17 and constitutes a most interesting feature 

 of the Wichita Game Preserve 



WILD TURKEYS 



In 1912 the United States Biological Survey shipped 13 wild tur- 

 keys to the Wichita Game Preserve from Atoka, Okla. They were 

 placed in a large inclosure where they could be given careful at- 

 tention. Some of them, however, had the roup when they arrived, 

 others took it later, and they all died except a gobbler and two hens. 

 These were moved into a new inclosure where they were given spe- 

 cial care and they became the nucleus of the present flock (fig. 4), 

 which numbers at least 300. In the early days, prior to the estab- 

 lishment of the game preserve, wild turkeys were plentiful in this 

 section of Oklahoma, but they were steadily reduced in number with 

 the growing settlement of the country. The last trace of the original 

 flocks had disappeared at least two years before the importation of 

 the new flock into the preserve. 



