536 
FOREST AND STREAM 
October, 1919 
FOREST-:^ STREAM 
FORTY-EIGHTH YEAR 
FOUNDERS OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY 
GOVERNING BOARD: 
GEORGE BIRD GRIITNELL, New Tork, N. Y. 
CARL E. AKELEY, American Museum of Natural History, New York. 
FRANK S. DAGGETT, Museum of Science, Los Ang^eles, Cal. 
EDMUND HELLER, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 
C. HART MERRIAM. Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. 
WILFRED H. OSGOOD, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 111. 
JOHN M. PfflLLIPS, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
CHARLES SHELDON, Washington, D. C. 
GEORGE SHIRAS, 3rd, Washington, D. C. 
WILLIAM BRTTETTE, Editor 
JOHN P. HOLMAN, Associate Editor 
TOM WOOD, Manager 
Nine East Fortieth Street, New York City 
THE OBJECT OF THIS JOURNAL WILL BE TO 
atudityiuly promote a healthful interest in outdoor rec- 
reation, and a refined taste for natural objects. 
August 14, 1873. 
RUFFED GROUSE OR NONE 
’~r HE ruffed grouse, noblest bird of the eastern for- 
ests, is in danger. Not only is it in danger, but 
it has actually disappeared from many woodlands 
where for generations it has lived and propagated 
its kind. These barren areas are increasing, for the 
causes that have reduced the numbers of the birds 
are still operating. The conditions demand serious 
consideration, and each lover of the gun should de- 
termine to do what he can to add to the stock of 
living grouse in his own territory. He can add to 
that stock by refusing to kill a single grouse, while 
the situation remains as it is! 
These are some of the causes that work against 
the ruffed grouse. The covers where they live have 
in many places been greatly reduced in area, or 
rendered unfit for occupancy. For several years 
past their natural enemies have been very numerous, 
and unusually large flights of goshawks and great 
owls have come ^own from the north and taken a 
heavy winter toll, destroying the birds left over for 
breeding. The crow destroys the eggs in many a 
nest and the foxes get a grouse occasionally. Then 
there are the depredations of the self -hunting dog 
owned by the farmer, and of the house cat, which 
most people do not at all appreciate. The destruc- 
tion caused among all ground nesting birds by the 
self-hunting dog is great. It hunts at all seasons and 
destroys large numbers of birds’ nests with their 
eggs and young. Few, except ornithologists, realize 
the destruction of game and songbirds caused by the 
domestic cat which hunts, perhaps close to the house. 
If to these causes of reduced grouse supply we add 
the ever increasing number of gunners and the con- 
stantly greater ease and swiftness with which they 
cover ground by motor car and by trolley, it is 
apparent that the prospects are gloomy for the con- 
tinuance of our stock of ruffed grouse. Unless we 
are all willing to do our part to aid in the work of 
adding to our grouse supply, there is grave danger 
that in many places the splendid bird must soon go. 
The matter really is in our own hands. Have we 
the will power to do the obviously necessary thing, 
to refrain from killing grouse, to sacrifice our own 
present gratification to the public good? The exer- 
cise of self control in this matter is altogether worth 
while. It is a matter cf public service. Americans 
— sportsmen above all — have in recent years shown 
themselves able and willing to make every sacrifice 
for their fellows. What about making such a sacri- 
fice as has been suggested for the gunners of a few 
years hence? If enough men do it the stock of 
grouse will certainly increase. The self restraint 
will prove a good investment. 
This is a live question. Several States have re- 
cently forbidden the killing of ruffed grouse until 
1920, Other States have shortened their open sea- 
son or reduced the bag limit on these birds. In 
States where legislative action has not been taken, 
local individuals and associations should agree among 
themselves that grouse are not to be shot. Many 
men — though perhaps not all — would live up to such 
an agreement. We recall a community where over- 
shooting and hard winters had brought the quail 
down to such a low point that only one or two 
broods were known to have been reared in two or 
three adjacent tovms. The local gunners agi’eed 
that they should not be shot and none were shot, 
except possibly three or four by boys, who perhaps 
acted before they thought. The result was a notable 
increase in quail during the next four years. 
Fellow shooters, the situation is serious, and we 
believe it the duty of each one of us to go abroad 
next season determined that under no temptation 
will we shoot a ruffed grouse — a partridge. Though 
it is the bird we most love to follow, the one that gives 
us the greatest satisfaction and triumph to secure, 
nevertheless, for this coming season — and perhaps 
for other seasons after this — the good sportsman 
should be satisfied with the occasional woodcock or 
pheasant that he may be able to pick up and should 
save the ruffed grouse for seed. 
Have we sportsmen the intelligence to see that we 
ought to follow this course, and have we the will 
power to do it? 
ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION 
"yHE Roosevelt Memorial Association has been 
^ formed to provide memorials in accordance with 
the plans of the National Committee, which include 
the erection of a suitable and adequate monumental 
memorial in Washington ; and acquiring, develop- 
ment and maintenance of a park in the town of 
Oyster Bay which may ultimately, perhaps, include 
Sagamore Hill, to be preserved like Mount Vernon 
and Mr. Lincoln’s home at Springfield. 
In order to carry this program to success, the As- 
sociation will need a minimum of $5,000,000, and 
so that participation in the creation of this memorial 
fund may be general, it asks for subscriptions there- 
to from millions of individuals. 
Colonel Roosevelt was the greatest American of 
his generation. He blazed the trail which this na- 
tion must travel. Unselfish and sincere in purpose, 
unswerving in seeking the right and following it, 
definite and direct in action, with his theory of per- 
sonal responsibility for wrong-doing and his creed 
of “the square deal” for all, he gave a lifetime of 
devoted public service which must stand as an in- 
spiration to the youth of this land for all time. Ar- 
dently American, believing profoundly that only 
through fullest acceptance of America’s privileges 
