Feb. 8, 1902,] 
109 
the middle of October at least there was a flight of birds 
every day, and consequent steady shooting; whereas in 
other autumns it is conceded that "there have been days 
of exceptional shooting which would more than equal 
any day this season, but on that one particular day the 
big bags had to be made, or not at all." As many as 
twelve to fifteen coots have been commonly killed in a 
morning by the local sportsmen at North Chatham, and 
one hunter "bagged eight coot and six shelldrake." 
Fine bags of yellowlegs, peeps, grass birds, etc^ were also 
obtained. Conditions more or les similar to those above 
described prevailed along the south shore and elsewhere 
where sea and shore birds are generally sought. 
Pheasants. 
Pheasants— Evidence of a gratifying increase of pheas- 
ants wkhin the Commonwealth, and of their breeding 
successfully in a wild State, have been numerous and 
convincing. It is practicable to mention only a few of 
these, but the statements that follow demonstrate the 
capacity of the Mongolian pheasant not only to live in 
our climate, but to multiply rapidly. The success of the 
hen pheasants in rearing large broods shows conclusively 
that in an effort of this kind the natural instincts of the 
mother bird excel the best achievements of man. 
Mr. W. G. Pray, of Topsfield, wrote as follows regard- 
ing pheasants on September 25: "Pheasants have bred 
well this season, and within a radius of twelve miles 
there are fifteen broods and from twelve to fifteen in a 
brood. * * * There are a number of broods in Tops- 
field, and the teamsters tell me that they start them in the 
road almost every day." 
A gentleman who has watched with interest the work 
at Winchester, informed Commissioner Brackett that he 
had found a pheasant's nest early in the season, in a 
secluded place near enough for him to keep it under ob- 
servation. Twenty-one eggs were laid in it, and these 
produced nineteen chicks, all of which were raised as 
long at least as the mother bird could keep them together. 
In another instance the commission was creditably in- 
formed of a young brood at or near Arlington that num- 
bered fifteen. 
The pheasant has done well on Nantucket. The En- 
quirer and Mirror of that town, in its isue of September 
21, said: "The Mongolian pheasants, which were liber- 
ated in the vicinity of Pognoy several months ago, are 
multiplying rapidly, several large broods of young birds 
having been discovered this week." 
At the other extremity of the State the outlook also 
seems encouraging. 
Deputy Nichols, writing on September 29, states that 
he had been informed by a well-known sportsman at 
Turner's Falls that a man had seen two pheasants near 
that village a few days previous; also, that Deputy Brock- 
way, of South Hadley, had stated that a farmer living 
near where the pheasants were liberated last spring, in 
the last-mentioned town, saw an old bird and ten young 
ones a few days previous to the date of Mr. Nichols's 
letter. I -' - 
Hon. I. M. Small, of North Truro, in .a letter dated 
Oct. 26, 1901, makes the following statement: "A beauti- 
ful cock pheasant was seen in the field between our house 
and the lighthouse last Tuesday, quite likely one of those 
which you put out here last spring." 
Deer. 
Deer.— There are many evidences that deer are in- 
creasing in this State to a satisfactory degree, and that 
they are widely distributed. Occasionally one is killed 
by accident or design, but the persistency with which 
the deputies have investigated all complaints of deer be- 
ing illegally killed, or killed in any manner, undoubtedly 
has had a tendency to prevent many, who otherwise 
might have hunted deer, from engaging in so hazardous 
an enterprise. 
Complaints of the abundance of deer have been received 
from farmers, who claim that their growing crops have 
been injured by the animals. Other evidences of the in- 
crease of deer are too numerous to be quoted here, and 
they are sufficient to indicate that the protection given 
by the State has resulted satisfactorily; it has demon- 
strated the feasibility of keeping this beautiful wild ani- 
mal within our State borders, and if the chasing of it by 
dogs can be prevented, there is no doubt that we can 
ultimately have deer to hunt in Massachusetts for a few 
days at least in each year. 
It will thus be seen that the game conditions in the 
State indicate much advancement, and, with some hoped- 
for improvement in the protective laws and adequate 
means for their enforcement, there is reason for antici- 
pating much in the future which until now seemed almost 
hopeless. 
Breeding Game Birds and Animals. 
Winchester. — The breeding of game birds and animals 
at the State experiment station at Winchester has been 
carried on as usual, but, for reasons specified in the fol- 
lowing paragraphs, the success with birds came short of 
expectation. 
Pheasants. — The past season has been very unfavorable 
for the artificial rearing of all kinds of birds. Owing to 
the warm weather of the previous fall, they molted late, 
and consequently had not recovered their usual vitality 
when winter overtook them. The spring was cold and 
wet, extending into June. Many of the eggs were not 
fertile, and many more lacked the vitality necessary for 
a- continued life. The consequence was that the antici- 
pations for a large increase in the number of pheasants 
at the station were not realized. 
The Mongolian pheasant is a wild, restless bird, re- 
quiring a great deal of . exercise and the widest range 
possible. By frequent experiments it has been found 
best to give the chicks, after the first five or six days, 
the liberty of the large enclosure. They grow faster and 
in every way are superior to those raised in small coops. 
They not only retain their instinct of self-preservation 
to a large extent, 'but learn to forage for themselves, and 
do not depend entirely on the hand of the superintendent 
for their food- As they grow older they will often fly 
over the fence into the adjoining woods and fields, but, 
if not caught by their enemies, will invariably return to 
the enclosure, and in the fall can be easily trapped for. 
distribution or for confinement in winter quarters. 
Thp experiments with the new food were continued 
this year. This is a granulated food, in appearance 
closely resembling that which is sold under the name of 
"grape-nuts." For feeding young birds, a lightly cooked 
custard without sugar was thickened with the granulated 
food until sufficiently dry to crumble. Beginning when 
they were five or six days old, about one hundred pheas- 
ant chicks were fed once a day on this food and twice on 
maggots. As pheasants are not naturally grain feeders, 
and as young chicks are reluctant to feed on anything 
that is not alive, it was necessary to teach them to eat 
the food by mixing maggots with it. They soon acquired 
a taste for it, and the effect was apparent, as they made 
rapid growth, began molting early, and when trapped in 
the fall were larger than any of the same age heretofore 
raised at the station. 
As these birds had their liberty in the large enclosure, 
and were not always under close observation, it was 
thought advisable to try the new food with birds in con- 
finement. Accordingly, thirty chicks were placed in the 
brooder house with small yards, and fed in the same 
way; but unfortunately, when three or four weeks old, a 
herd of migratory rats dug into the brooder house, and 
in one night killed twenty-six. The remaining four were 
more or less demoralized, yet one of them, a male, has 
made a phenomenal growth. 
Until they are fully feathered out, young pheasants 
should not be fed on farinaceous food unless it is thor- 
oughly cooked. In a state of nature the mother bird, 
although she may be a seed or grain feeder, never makes 
the mistake of feeding her young on such food. 
Ruffed Grouse. — Unfortunately, we were unable to ob- 
tain eggs to continue experiments with grouse at Win T 
Chester this year. Superintendent Merrill made an effort 
to raise some partridge in confinement at Sutton. As in 
the experiment tried by Mr. Brackett the. previous year, 
no difficulty was met with in hatching the chicks and rais- 
ing them to about the same stage as those attained to at 
Winchester last season; but then they all died in a short 
time. ji »i» ijl 
The Belgian Hare. 1 '; 
The Belgian Hare— The remarkable rabbit craze that 
recently swept over the country has apparently subsided. 
Elaborate advertising caused a temporary boom that has 
not been sustained. Many books were published giving 
directions how to breed and care for these animals. The 
breeder was cautioned to avoid all currents of air, as it 
was sure to produce snuffles. Nor must the animals be 
given green food, as it would cause slobbers. Then fol- 
lowed thirty or forty different prescriptions for sick rab- 
bits, conveying the idea that these animals are very de- 
pendent upon continuous medical treatment. Rabbits 
reared under conditions thus suggested are wholly unfit 
for food, and should not be used for that purpose. 
It is to be regretted that the Belgian rabbit was not 
put on the market at its true value. The reaction which 
is likely to follow the attempts to breed it for speculative 
purposes, and under unnatural conditions, may for a time 
retard the proper development of an enterprise that must 
be considered an important factor in the production of a 
very desirable article of food. 
Distribution of Game and Animals." 
Distribution of Game Birds and Animals. — During the 
year 368 pheasants have been liberated in the covers of 
the State, in response to the requests of 55 applicants. 
This distribution far exceeds in numbers ^anything here- 
tofore accomplished by the commission in this direction, 
and is due primarily to the expansion of the work, es- 
pecially at Sutton; but also to the fact that it has been 
considered desirable to liberate all the birds available for 
distribution, and not to winter any except those reserved 
for breeding purposes. 
The output of hares has been 224 ; in addition to those, 
a considerable number of young have been retained for 
wintering, as has been mentioned elsewhere. The list 
of persons whose applications were complied with and 
the points of distribution are shown in the appendix. 
Proposed Introduction of New Game Birds. 
Proposed Introduction of New Game Birds. — Through 
the kindness of Rev. Cephas F. Clapp, an effort has been 
made to introduce from Oregon, for the purpose of arti- 
firal propagation, the so-called "mountain quail," or 
plumed partridge (Oreorty.v pictus plumiferus Gould). 
This is a hardy mountain species, that is found in the 
comparatively dry elevated regions in the interior of the 
Pacific coast States and as far east as Nevada. Captain 
Bendire found it on Mount Kearsarge, Inyo County, Cal., 
where in summer it reached an altitude of ten thousand 
feet; 
The reputed hardiness of this species, and the fact that 
it " buds " in winter, like our native ruffed grouse, 
prompts the belief that it will thrive in this State. It is 
claimed that it can be reared in captivity with less trouble 
than the Mongolian pheasant. If, therefore, it is practic- 
able to secure even a few birds to breed from at the 
beginning, it seems feasible to soon be in a position to 
annually turn out a large number, in view of the fact that 
two litters of eggs may be expected under favorable con- 
ditions. 
Mr. Clapp unfortunately found a serious obstacle in 
the law of Oregon which prohibits the transportation of 
any wild birds of this species out of the State. With the 
utmost desire to serve us in this matter, he found that he 
was effectually prevented from doing anything, because 
the statute, which was enacted to prevent pot hunters 
from accomplishing the practical extermination of the 
" mountain quail." proved an effective barrier to its ex- 
portation to another State for scientific purposes. Under 
the circumstances, and in view of the purpose for which 
the birds were desired, it was considered advisable to 
invoke the good offices of the Governor of Oregon. Ac- 
cordingly, a letter was addressed to His Excellency Gov. 
T. T. Geer, by the Chairman of the Board, on Nov, 8, 
1901, setting forth the object of this commission in at- 
tempting to secure living specimens of the " mountain 
quail," and expressing the hope that their procurement 
for transportation out of Oregon for the purpose indicat- 
ed might not be found contrary to the spirit of the law of 
that State regarding transportation of game across its 
boundaries.* 
*Since the above was written, and while this report is going 
through the press, arrangements have been concluded whereby 
birds of this species can be obtained at the proper time. 
Correspondence has also been tentatively maugurated 
bearing on the possibility of the introduction of the caper- 
cailzie (Tetras urogallus) and the black game (T. tetnx). 
Both of these are inhabitants of northern Europe, and are 
among the finest game birds known. The capercailzie 
belongs to the grouse family, of which our ruffed grouse 
and prarie chicken are well known examples in this 
country. It is the largest grouse known, and considered 
the noblest game of the grouse family. A weight of 
ten or twelve pounds is often attained by the full-grown 
cock. The black game weighs about three pounds, is 
hardy, and recognized as a fine game species. Like its 
larger congener, the capercailzie, it is a grouse, and es- 
sentially a bird of the woods. These are considered the 
two most important species of -wild birds of the Scandi- 
navian peninsula, considered either from the standpoint 
of food or sport. 
Attempts to introduce the black game in Maine and 
Vermont are reported to have been made by private par- 
ties ; but little is known regarding them, beyond the fact 
that a very few birds were liberated in the woods, doubt- 
less in a weakened condition, in consequence of the trans- 
atlantic voyage, and it is not improbable that they died 
before the period of reproduction arrived — at least we 
are unable to learn that any birds of this species have ever 
been seen. If, however, it is practicable to breed either 
of these species in captivity— and there appears no reason 
to doubt it— entirely different results might be secured 
by the acquirement of enough of them to inaugurate their 
^propagation under State auspices. All attempts to breed 
from eggs of these species, shipped from a distance, have 
resulted in failure. Only adult birds can be relied on, 
and experiments already made prove the feasibility of 
their safe transportation. Mr. Thomas estimates the cost 
of strong, healthy birds of these species af twelve dollars 
each for capercailzie and seven dollars each for black 
game. 
The familiar quail, or "Bob White," cannot be con- 
sidered a new species in any sense of the word, since it 
is one of the best known and most highly valued of our 
game birds. But the inauguration of the work of breed- 
ing and rearing it in captivity, which is now seriously 
contemplated, will, if undertaken, be an innovation in 
the effort the commission is making to keep our covers 
properly stocked with game birds. Until now there has 
seemed to be no necessity for the State to breed quail, 
since there has been no difficulty, as a rule, in purchasing 
them for stocking purposes. Much has been done in this 
direction by clubs and public-spirited individuals, and no 
doubt this commendable effort will be continued if it is 
feasible to get the birds. But the necessity for increasing 
the stringency of protective laws in the various States 
points to the probability that it may not be long before 
it may be impracticable to obtain in the open markets 
large numbers of quail for stocking our covers. Whether 
or not we undertake the breeding of quail immediately, 
it will be wise to be in a position to engage in this work, 
if necessary, before it becomes difficult or impossible to 
secure breeding birds. No difficulty whatever is anti- 
cipated in breeding and rearing quail, as they can be rais- 
ed as easy as chickens. 
Wildfowl Refuges. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I would call your attention and that of the many 
readers of your excellent journal, to the wholesale 
slaughter of game by persons who are pleased to call 
themselves sportsmen; not that this is anything new, but 
to arouse all true sportsmen to what confronts them. 
The first instance is one published in the North Ameri- 
can, of Philadelphia, Pa., giving an account of a hunt- 
ing trip of Mr. J. Fred. Betz, Jr., and others. The paper 
also contained a picture showing some of the individuals 
and the rigging of the vessel "festooned" by the trophies 
of the trip, a collection of ducks, geese, and brant to the 
number of 840, in addition to five great swan swaying 
from the peak of the main-mast; and it is said the "Sibylla 
left Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 22, having on board a party 
consisting of J. Fred Betz, Jr., and the following guests: 
F. L. Glosser, Albert Baltz, Louis Beitler, Assistant Sec- 
retary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; C. A. Dur- 
ban, owner of the Girard Avenue Theatre; Lory E. 
Brown, of Richmond, Va.; Jesse Rawcliffe, and John H. 
Leary, of Chester. Pa. In addition to the birds brought 
back, the party killed seven deer, which were given to 
friends in Norfolk. Va. The deer were from Hatteras 
Island, off Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, where about one- 
half the feathered game was bagged. The remainder was 
secured on Ocracoke Island, also off the coast of North 
Carolina." 
"It was the greatest hunting trip I ever took," said 
F. L. Glosser. "The abundance of the game was aston- 
ishing. However, the bag was not so great as it would 
have been but for the fact that for five days we were un- 
able to do any hunting." 
All persons interested in the propagation and preserva- 
tion of game, and all right-thinking sportsmen, cannot 
applaud such seeming wanton slaughter. 
Here is another similar instance to the above item and 
was dated New Orleans, Dec. 24, and says: "Martin 
Hughitt, Jr., freight traffic manager of the Chicago and 
Northwestern, left in his private car for his headquarters 
this morning, after a week's hunt on Little Lake which 
broke all records. Mr. Hughitt was accompanied by R. 
M. Cox, of Chicago. 
"The two Chicago men made the hunt as the guests 
of J. M. Cummings. treasurer of the Louisiana Cypress 
Company, who had invited them to try Louisiana waters 
as a hunter's paradise. For the trip the steamboat Hale 
was chartered and elaborately provisioned. A large force 
of hunters was engaged to keep the ducks flying: The 
party was gone just a week, and in that time about 1,600 
ducks and geese fell to their guns." 
Some of the men, it seems, hold important business 
positions, but what all real sportsmen wMl regret, I think, 
is that they have so little consciousness of wrong doing, 
not only toward the game, but the public at large. And 
if these, slaughters are to be continued to the extent that 
we read of from time to time in the public press, it cer- 
tainly cannot be very many years before the wild duck 
will be as rare as. the wild pigeon. 
I would suggest that all interested in the preservation 
of the wild duck ais'4 wildfowl urge upon Congress 
