Martha* 8 Vineyard *- 
CT3.pid.onia eupldo >- 
Heth*n*‘ Thos» Waldron* 
Live in oak scrub but feed otit into grain fields; are very fond 
of clover* Go in small flocks; counted 16 in one flock aroiand 
barn last winter and saw 6 more same day* Their range covers 
about 75 sq*' m*' there v/ere fully 100 birds in this range this 
spring*- Heard them tooting in May. Pound nest with IS or 14 
eggs about June 10 some years ago* Nest among oak sprouts at 
base of large stump. Have counted 12 chicks in brood* S5 years 
ago saw between 100 and 800 birds in a flock* Have seen them in 
a roTY along a fence* When flushed in the fields they fly 
straight into the v/oods* Ruffed Grouse is found but is much less 
numerous than Heth*n* 
Another W* Tisbury man tells me he rarely goes to Cottage City 
without seeing them in the road* 
Mr* David Fisher of Edgartown tells me that contrary to general 
report his father did not introduce any Pinnated Grouse on this 
island and further that he has no knowledge that the native stock 
has ever been mixed with foreign blood* The story arises from 
the fact that his father introduced some Quail many years ago, 
the native stock having been practically exter* by winter of 1858* 
The Heath Hens are, he says, much less nimierous than formerly 
(30 years ago) but he thinks they have been increasing for the 
past three or four years* He sav/ more last v/inter than for 5 years. 
