Tym-nanuch-us cuTiido . 
1897. 
Dec. 50. 
The Passing of the Heath Hen. 
IvIr.C.E. Hoyle called to-day bringing six shins and one 
egg Qx* the Heath Hen. He believes that this Grouse is now 
practically if not absolutely extinct. Up to 1892 it had held 
its own fairly well although nore or less birds v/ere shot 
every year and at all seasons by native gunners against v/hon 
local sentiment would not warrant the bringing of prosecutions. 
I 
But this tolerance was not extended to outsiders or, at least, 
to such of them as had no friends on the island. A partial 
exception to this rule was made, however, in the case of a 
man now living In Boston but originally from the Vineyard. 
This v;retch went to the island in August, 1892, when the young 
Heath Hens were still in coveys and unable to tahe long 
flights and hmting them persistently with well-trained dogs 
he shot and sent to the Boston markets about 150 birds, or 
fully one half of the total number believed to have been on 
the Vineyard at that time. The following year he made a simi- 
lar raid getting practically all that were left. The Island- 
ers grumbled a good deal at this slaughter but nothing was 
done to punish its perpetrator. 
Nearly all the Heath Hens which hav^^ through llr .Hoyle ' s 
hands were procured by a friend who lives on Martha's Vineyard 
and who for many years has been familiar with the habits of 
the birds and their haunts. U? to 1894 this man had talcen too 
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