166 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 26, 1«S>. 



grouse. This time no setter followed my bidding. While 

 following this trail, gun on one shoulder and turkey on the 

 other, the grouse took wing, but a charge of No, 6 se- 

 cured it, 



I reached home somewhat tired, but well pleased with my 

 tramp after birds, health and recreation. Wooothrcsh. 



WlLLIAMSPORT, Pa. 



MIGRATORY QUAIL. 



Editor Forest and Streum: 



In your issue of Dec. 11, "G. M. &>" expresses full belief 

 that the Sicily (Messina) quail imported into this country [have 

 survived all the dangers and perils that beset thern, and that 

 they are now prospering and doing well. "They are here," 

 he says, "and here to stay." 



The whole country is interested in this matter of introduc- 

 ing Messina quail. It would add another game bird to our 

 scanty stock — "a consummation devoutly to he wished," and 

 moreover, would increase our food supply, a subject of no 

 little importance to our people. So anxious are we to learn 

 of the accomplishment ol this end, that we are ready to 

 believe almost any statement, however extravagant, put 

 forth in this direction. Nor has there been a dearth of 

 writers ready and willing to lend a hand to help on the 

 delusion. Every little while for the past four or five years, 

 some one in some remote corner has discovered these birds in 

 a flourishing coudition. Now in Pennsylvania, now in 

 Maine, now in Massachusetts, and apparently without very 

 thorough scrutiny, has rushed into print with his story, 

 which has been eagerly devoured by willing ears. All of 

 these declarations, except the oue put forth by "G. M. S.," 

 have, we believe, under investigation fallen Into very min- 

 ute fragments and disappeared, and even this last hangs 

 upon a very slender thread — the result of the examination 

 and report on the two specimens that were to have been 

 sent to "R, O. Morris, Esq., clerk of Hampden county, "for 

 identification and classification. We have waited all these 

 long weeks with tremulous anxiety for this report, but none 

 has been made, nor have we seen a word of explanation or con- 

 solation from "G, M. S." This whole account of the Sicily 

 quail seems to us somewhat conflicting and contradictory. 



A correspondent in the Forest and Stream expi-esses 

 the opinion that, if foreign birds were planted in warmer 

 climates they would spread north, to which "G. M. S." 

 replies: "This view as applicable to song birds may be true, 

 but the migratory quail or Sicily quail are hardy. Stock the 

 fields with them." 



Again, he says the quail were imported because it was 

 thought that they would breed here, migrate south, return 

 in the spring, and* still further on he makes this most singu- 

 lar remark: "No bird has instinct nor intelligence enough 

 to find its way south to a warmer climate; they must have a 

 leader." These tilings puzzle us exceedingly. "Sicily quail 

 are hardy." Of course they are or they would not be rooting 

 around here in the snow after food on the ninth day of Nov- 

 ember. But are they so "hardy" that they can live all win- 

 ter under a snow bank three feet deep, and come out in the 

 spring fat? If so, they are good birds to have; just the 

 thing for this climate, and if "G. M. S." knows whereof he 

 speaks, then we congratulate the country on this splendid 

 acquisition. If the birds are here as late as November 9, we 

 must infer that they are here for the winter. This conclusion 

 is inevitable, since, they have neither "instinct" nor a "leader" 

 to carry them south. In other words, when they are im- 

 ported they become non-migratory; then what have we 

 gained by the importation? Our native quail are certainly 

 larger, and about as prolific, and although not regarded as 

 "hardy," are, we think, about as capable of taking care of 

 themselves. 



We wish, however, to have it understood distinctly that 

 the idea that "no bird has instinct nor intelligence enough 

 to find the way south" originated with "G. M. S." and not 

 with us. All our experience and observation lead us to a 

 contrary conclusion. How is it with our non-gregarious 

 birds that arrive silently and alone in spring time, and de- 

 part in autumn in the same sileut and solitary way? Have 

 they a '"'leader," one that has been over the road and weighed 

 its i'ar journey by certain land marks? We trow not. If 

 the parent of a gaggle of geese is killed, do not the young 

 birds instinctively find their way south? Possibly our Scolo- 

 paddcti may better illustrate this. Did any one ever see any 

 number of woodcock, or even a single individual under con- 

 voy ? Any one familiar with the habits of our Limicolm knows 

 very well" that the adult males leave the females and the 

 callow brood on the breeding ground in midsummer, that 

 some weeks later the adult females follow their lords, and 

 that several weeks still later the young birds, under no 

 leadership except "instinct," rind their way south, not by 

 land, but striking out boldly across the ocean to spend the 

 winter in the luxuriant climate of South America. The 

 migratory habils of Messina quail are quite similar to those 

 of other migrants. They breed far north in Europe, and 

 about September start along south, crossing the Mediter- 

 ranean into Africa, where they pass the winter, returning in 

 April or May. If they retain their habits when transported, 

 as they would be likely to, then they would not be found 

 above 42° north latitude, so late as Nov. 9, especially if there 

 was snow on the ground. 



It is now about, ten years since this matter of importing 

 European quail (Gotunrix communis) was first agitated. 

 Some of our sportsmen became deeply impressed by the fact 

 that our game birds were becoming scarcer and scarcer every 

 year; our game laws were weak, inefficient and feebly 

 enforced, and offered very little protection to the birds, and 

 that unless something was done in a few years there would 

 be no birds here worth hunting or keeping dogs for. How 

 to supply the deficiency was a question not so easily answered. 

 Some would have more stringent laws to preserve what few 

 birds we have left; some would prohibit killing altogether 

 for a series of years, while others would attempt to restock 

 the country by importing foreign birds, Of the several 

 species that were discussed, the Messina quail, from its 

 known migratory habit, was, of all the European birds, 

 thought to be the best adapted to our climate and condition 

 of things, and the most likely to propagate and thrive here. 

 As early as the year 1875 this matter was discussed, and a 

 plan formed for importing some of the birds as a sort of 

 experiment. 



Among the first and most prominent projectors of this 

 scheme was Hon. Martin O. Everts, of Rutland, Vt. _ Vari- 

 ous causes interposed to prevent the immediate execution of 

 the plan. Parties were ignorant of the habits of the birds, 

 the time of their migration, the method of capture, and 

 means for shipment, as well as the proper person to apply to 

 in Messina for such aid as would be required. The first in- 

 voice of about four hundred of the birds arrived in New 

 York on June 5, 1877, one part of them going to Vermont, 



the other to Massachusetts. The birds were often seen dur- 

 ing that summer, and it was certain that, like most immi- 

 grants, they prospered and reared large families. From dif- 

 ferent sections where they had been planted, the most en- 

 couraging accounts were received of the entire success of the 

 enterprise. This fired the hearts of other sportsmen, nay, 

 the whole of New Engladd was in a blaze. The next year 

 other parties ordered out more of the birds, and these were 

 supplanted by larger invoices each year up to 1881, at which 

 time some fifteen thousand had been landed upon our shores, 

 about ten thousand of which were imported through the 

 agency of Horace P. Tobey, Esq. , of this city, who kindly 

 volunteered his services for that purpose. These birds were 

 scattered up and down the land from Maine to Virginia. 



There was no doubt whatever that the birds bred well in 

 the year they were liberated, but did they migrate and return 

 the following spring? This was the grand question that 

 puzzled the minds of those most interested. It was a prob- 

 lem not so easily solved. Young quail were undoubtedly 

 seen in several places during the summer of '78, but were 

 they the offspring of the importation of that or the previous 

 year? Upon this question opinions divided, but the closest 

 observers began to suspect that the birds did not return, 

 and the whole scheme would prove a failure. So uni- 

 versally did this notion prevail, so discouraging was the out- 

 look for the future, that no birds, to our knowledge, were 

 imported subsequently to 1881; yet "G. M. S." quotes 

 from the papers to prove that two years ago (1883) these birds 

 were imported and "turned loose in the town of Wilbraham." 

 As we understand the case, nothing more was heard from the 

 plant until August last, when Deacon Preston stepped upon 

 a young bird, crushing out its dear little life, "and this 

 proved to be a young one of this species"— Sicily quail. It 

 is strange, it is marvelous, that for more than two years these 

 birds were here, where so many people were solicitous 

 for their welfare, our sporting journals were eager for tid- 

 ings of their whereabouts, that they should have remained 

 here so long and not be seen of any until that one fell beneath 

 the ruthless foot of the deacon . 



How could we account for the survival of the little hand- 

 ful of quail planted there, while some fifteen thousand of 

 them imported year before should all perish? Those im- 

 ported first "were Jet loose here strangers to land and 

 climate," just the same as the last, and yet the one fails, the 

 other succeeds. Can "Gr. M. S." explain this apparent anti- 

 thesis? We hope the Wilbrahamers will have quail as plenty 

 as they were around the camp of Moses, "as it were a day's 

 journey on either side * * * round about the camp, and 

 as it were two cubits high," so that each sportsman, together 

 with the "deacon" and the four "witnesses," may be able to 

 gather or "bag" his "ten homers." 



The description, however, of the birds seen by "G. M. S.,' ! 

 and which he pronounces "migratory quail," answers but 

 too well for the young of our native quail. The call note of 

 immature natives is generally a syllable longer than that of 

 the adults. Nor should we think any one could easily recog- 

 nize specific characters so early as August, especially if the 

 birds were so young as to be trod upon. 



In summing up the whole matter we cannot help thinking 

 the quail seen by "G. M. S." and his friends were young 

 native quail about half or two-thirds grown. It is a well- 

 known fact that the young of most species of birds, whether 

 male or female, resemble each other in color, and that in 

 their plumage they copy the maternal rather than the paternal 

 relative. Another fact is patent, viz. : that but very little is 

 known of European quail in this country. Few people have 

 ever seen one. Possibly "G. M. S." is one of these. 



That this country will ultimately be stocked with Messina 

 quail we have not a doubt. They are too valuable a bird, 

 have too many good qualities and adaptabilities for our 

 wide-spread territory and variety of climate to be much 

 longer neglected, but we must adopt some different method 

 from that hitherto pursued. We should like to see the ex- 

 periment tried of planting them far south, say as far as 

 Mexico or the Isthmus of Panama, late in winter or early 

 spring, and then let them work their way north gradually as 

 they possibly might. Then if they migrate south, as is their 

 wont in autumn, they would not be so likely to quit terra 

 firtna and be lost at sea, as they would if planted further 

 north or east, where the first "experiment failed. If we 

 could educate out of them the instinct to cross the Mediter- 

 ranean, we should have accomplished about all we desire. 

 There is no manner of doubt, with their prolific tendencies 

 and migratory habits, they would in a few years so multiply 

 as to cover and stock our whole continent. We might in- 

 stance the European sparrow as an example of the" rapid 

 propagation of foreign birds. It is only a few years since 

 the unpardonable sin of importing a small number of these 

 pests was unwittingly perpetrated, and see! They are every- 

 where and all over the land, a useless, filthy, quarrelsome, 

 unabatable nuisance. Why not have these useful and beau- 

 tiful little quail as plentiful if once they get a permanent 

 foothold here? W, Hapgood. 



Boston, Feb. 25, 1885. 



PHILADELPHIA NOTES. 



THE unexpected cold weather of this week upset the cal- 

 culations of many Philadelphia sportsmen who had in- 

 tended to devote a portion of the time to snipe shooting. 

 The arrival of the birds in fair numbers south of us and the 

 coming last week of a few stragglers in close proximity of 

 our city proper, were good indications that sport could be had. 

 Jack Frost, however, has attacked the feeding grounds 

 again, and the wet spots bordering the rivers and creeks are 

 at present writing in an adamantine condition. The ice 

 which had almost entirely disappeared from the streams, 

 has again formed, and is once more floating with the tide. 

 Many fowl are showing themselves in the Delaware, and a 

 great many are being " killed below Bombay Hook, the 

 Delaware State shore attracting the greater numbers. 

 Slaughter Neck and Prime Hook marshes are alive with 

 sprigtails, and will continue to be so until the warm days of 

 spring come upon us, when they will leave for the breeding 

 grounds. At Barnegat and Tuckerton bays the arrival of 

 numbers of brant is reported, but the heavy ice of the past 

 winter, when it broke up and drifted out, has closely shaven 

 the sedge growth on the islands where hides are made while 

 decoying for fowl, and the baymenfind it impossible to now 

 keep their boats out of sight. Not only does this make it 

 difficult to secure good darts to the stools, but the brant re- 

 turning from the south to the New Jersey bays in the spring, 

 so well remember the reception they received on their arri- 

 val from the north in November, it is seldom a bunch can be 

 induced to notice their wooden counterparts. 



Many young fowl are in the flocks when they come to us 

 in the autumn, and these answering the honk of the fowler, 

 are more readily lured, leading the older birds with them; 



but they learn wisdom by the time they reach their southern 

 feeding grounds, and return in the spring with not a particle 

 of "green in their eyes." The days of good fowl shooting, 

 especially for brant, are about ended on the New Jersey 

 coast. It has been told me that during the very severe 

 weather of last month, a great many black ducks we're killed 

 in the air boles when both Tuckerton and Barnegat bays 

 were frozen over, and that the fowl were little better than 

 feather-covered skeletons, unfit for market, being fishy and 

 tough, and were utilized oclv for their plumage. The fowl 

 that now come to the Philadelphia market from our own 

 rivers have greatly improved in condition. We look for the 

 very cold weather to be followed by a pleasant season of sun- 

 shine and perhaps a warm rain with it, which will huny up 

 the flights of all migratory birds. When the snipe do come 

 now, they will arrive in good numbers, and will not straggle 

 along in small flights as it would be the case if the weather 

 had been warmer. Homo. 



CALL OFF THE DOGS I 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Congratulations! Dogging deer has had a knock-down in 

 the Assembly. "Call off the dogs," say the representatives 

 of the people. 



It does seem that at last manly sense and rational appre- 

 ciation are getting on top. It does seem that the listless and 

 utter abandonment of the people's interests that has prevailed 

 in the matter of fish and game protection is near an end. 

 May we hope the reformation is not too late? There are still 

 important interests to preserve, and everything encouraging 

 in the purpose to protect them. The slow, lingering pro- 

 cesses by which public abuses are brought home to the pub- 

 lic sense have been effective to lay open to the most careless 

 and to the most indifferent the practices so rapidly depleting 

 our waters of fish and our forests of game, and we have now 

 approached a practical test, whether there is in the awak- 

 ened public sense such consistency and tenacity of purpose 

 as will enforce needed remedies. 



It is the million against the mite, just as it is in a crusade 

 against any intolerable wrong, for it is in precise proportion 

 to the development of citizen manliness that wrongs become 

 rare ; are made, in the expressive slang of the time, to "hunt 

 their hole." The cupidity and brutality that characterize 

 present methods of game extermination have created a revolt 

 in the better sense and humanity of the State— that is to say, 

 in the million, and this is but saying that antagonism exists 

 and that if it be maintained the mite must succumb. 



The history of the last few years' experience could scarcely 

 have failed to admonish all. In utter despair of ever effect- 

 ing general reformation, game protectionists in the State 

 have been driven, in localities, t® associated effort iu the 

 purchase and dedication to private uses of large and the best 

 game and fish preserves. Private means and exertion have 

 so secured exclusive rights, and the poor man, poor in the 

 accumulation of the "filthy lucre," but (forsooth) with as 

 keen a relish for manly pastime as his rich neighbor, is for- 

 bidden a footprint where in recent time he has' felt himself 

 at home in a common enjoyment of air and sunlight. He 

 finds the "aristocracy" have appropriated even out-of-doors — 

 have taken possession, for the mere willing it, of the fish in 

 the waters and the game that inhabits the woods, and made 

 the people the objects of private espionage and prosecution; 

 monition this, which ought to awaken public attention. 



With attention aroused, will there be mustered the force- 

 ful energy to take the cause of game protection out of the 

 hands of the monopolists? Will the people's representatives, 

 having the fiat to pronounce, say nay to these self-appointed 

 wardens? Ought they to do it? Most assuredly; but upon 

 the single condition that they do effectually protect and pre- 

 serve for the many what, they have thus far abandoned to 

 the few. 



Tis too bad, 'tis , mortifying, an insult to popular sov- 

 rcignty; these exclusive privileges to capture and kill the 

 fish and game, yes, almost as bad as its abandonment to in- 

 discriminate and wanton destruction. Game protection as 

 a public sentiment pervades the million, while game protec- 

 tion as a duty is, unfortuuately, potent only with the few. 

 And this has grown, legitimately, out of the' alternative that 

 was presented, whether game should be preserved for a few. 

 or exterminated for all. 



There is no diminution in numbers resorting to the woods 

 and waters for mere sensational excitement, and money is 

 more lavish than ever in its purchase. This is the element 

 that would, willingly, in urgent need of present enjoyment, 

 share the extinction of the deer of the State. It is danger- 

 ous mainly in its command of money. Money moves the 

 numerous agencies that pander to depraved tastes, and to 

 say that money is an innocent factor in game extermination, 

 is to say that the woods are not filled with hostelries 

 advanced in popular attractions and demands, and as un- 

 scrupulous as the tastes to which they eater; that the woods 

 do not swarm with "tourists" iu vehement pursuit of what- 

 ever sport or venture — the midnight assassination with jack 

 and buckshot, and when assassination fails (for the game is 

 not. entirely defenseless against it), the deer dogged next 

 noonday to certain murder by gun or bludgeon in the water; 

 that the outcome, the growth, the legitimate progeny in all 

 his brain and bone, and muscle, ol this depravity, is the 

 guide, who accepts extermination in advance, and makes its 

 wreckage his hand-to-mouth existence. He serves a master; 

 and this fixes responsibility. Is there anything more pain- 

 fully amusing than the simplicity that, occasionally, in an 

 exuberance of happy memories of the chase and shanty-fire, 

 parades the "trusted guide" who shares them, as the fast 

 aud constant enemy of prevalent methods of game exter- 

 mination? What a pity that complicity in participation so 

 shuts all other mouths against ansvveriug denial. It is the 

 relation of master and servant, this of guide and tourist, and 

 what if tourist care as little for game protection as for the 

 clothes he soils and gives to beggars? 



Let the friends of game protection in the State be on the 

 alert and watchful. There will probably be no pronounced 

 open, manly opposition to the Curtis bill in the Senate, for 

 manly opposition has not a leg to stand on. Covert opposi- 

 tion will do its utmost. But with attention from the candid 

 men who sit as senators, it will avail nothing. Indifference 

 should not be excused to one's self when it gives away to the 

 hotel-men and the market-men what should be saved for the 

 people. In the unreasoning cupidity that always character- 

 izes narrow selfishness, they would sacrifice the interests 

 of their own future to greed for present profit. Shall this 

 purpose dominate the Senate? It would seem to be impos- 

 sible. The marketmen are massed in open hostility. This, 

 so far, is manly. If other enemies lurk unseen, game protec- 

 tionists must fight them at a disadvantage— but, fight them. 



"Up, Guards, and at th6m!' r 

 Adirondack^, March V, X8fi5, FORKS. 



