FOREST AND STREAM 
297 
M 
Seven Promising Anglers—Young Kingfishers. 
The future of this bird is somewhat prob¬ 
lematical. That it can be saved from extinc¬ 
tion, barring an epidemic or unusual disaster 
appears to have been demonstrated. The most 
interesting result of the work, which has con¬ 
sisted largely in the development of a typical 
farm in the center of the reservation where 
the birds can find abundant food in variety 
and relative freedom from enemies, has been 
the fact that even from a small number of 
birds rather rapid increase may be secured. 
It appears to have been a very fortunate cir¬ 
cumstance that the number of males was much 
in excess of the females, possibly as many as 
ten males to one female in 1907 . This reduced 
the chance of any possible deterioration from 
inbreeding. Our observations indicate that 
this preponderance in number of males over 
females is slowly disappearing, and, as my ob¬ 
servations indicate, is probably now about four 
or five to one, 1913 . 
As to the efficiency of these birds as insect 
destroyers, testimony was given by our state 
ornithologist who said that last summer when 
the grass and corn on the rest of the island 
were practically destroyed by an incursion of 
army worms, our reservation presented a 
green oasis in the desert. Of most importance 
possibly is the application of the methods 
adopted here as promising success on similar 
reservations for saving the remnants of the 
various species of grouse and allied birds in 
the middle and western states, notably the 
sage cock, the sharp-tail, pinnated and other 
grouse. 
The problem for the people to determine is 
whether saving the remnant of these birds 
with the possibility of restoring them to suit¬ 
able localities where they can be again natu¬ 
ralized and maintained is worth while. 
BIRD PROTECTION LAW STILL EFFECTIVE. 
Many of the press comments on the decision 
of the United 'States District Court, rendered 
March 20 at Topeka, Kansas, holding that the 
Federal Migratory Bird Law is unconstitutional, 
according to the United States Department of 
Agriculture, are erroneous and are apt to mis¬ 
lead the public concerning the real situation in 
this matter. 
The Kansas decision, like a former decision to 
the same effect in the Eastern District of Ar¬ 
kansas, is limited in its operation solely to the 
district in which it was rendered. Neither de¬ 
cision settles or nullifies the law, and the exact 
contrary has been held by the United States Dis 7 
trict Court for South Dakota. The Arkansas 
case has been appealed to, and is now pending in 
the United States Supreme Court. The Act of 
Congress protecting migratory birds stands effec¬ 
tive until the Supreme Court finally decides the 
question of its constitutionality. In the mean¬ 
time it is incumbent on every law-abiding citizen 
to observe its provisions and the regulations. It 
is the duty of the Department of Agriculture to 
enforce this law and the officials in charge will 
endeavor to do so as long as it is in force. Re¬ 
ports of violations will be carefully investigated 
and when sufficient evidence is secured they will 
be reported for prosecution. In this connection 
it should not be forgotten that an offender 
against this, as in the case of other United States 
laws, is subject to prosecution any time within 
three years from the date the offense is com¬ 
mitted. 
PARTI-COLORED PARTRIDGES. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I note in your March number an article by 
Mr., E. H. Bailey in regard to a parti-white 
partridge secured by him while hunting in 
Brookfield, and think such freaks worthy of 
publication. 
A friend of mine here in town while out 
hunting last fall killed a white (cock) partridge, 
that was perfectly white with the exception of 
one black feather in crest. I also shot one 
several years ago that had white wings, the rest 
of the body having the natural colorations, and 
a friend hunting with me a few years later shot 
one with white and dark feathers alternating all 
over. Both my friends had their birds mounted, 
the white one attracting a good deal of atten¬ 
tion in one of the local sporting goods stores. 
W. K. SMITH. 
Manchester, N. FI., April 3, 1915. 
GAME IN WISCONSIN. 
643-/2nd Ave., 'West Allis, Wis. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Our native game wintered well. I took the 
little beagle out for some exercise about two 
weeks ago and was much surprised to see him 
start two rabbits in a little thicket where I 
didn’t think there was any game at all. The herd 
of elk given the State by the Federal govern¬ 
ment was received early this spring, but very -un¬ 
fortunately did not stand the trip well. All but 
five had died of a lung trouble, and they were 
not expected to live the last time I heard of them. 
More ducks were seen on Green Raj' this spting 
than for many years, due to the Federal law, we 
hope. 
When the announcement of the change to a 
monthly was made I decided to drop out, but the 
monthly is so good I feel that I cannot give 
it up. C. T. WINSTON. 
A STRANGE CALLER. 
This was the first morning warm enough to 
have the outside door of our new farmhouse left 
open, and a strange caller, known as Mr. Yellow- 
bellied Sapsucker (sometimes called Sphyraficus 
varius (Linn.), came to call on about half a thou¬ 
sand of the bird family that had moved in 
(within the past two months) and announced 
“at home” after April 1st. 
The visitor came unannounced—by the front 
door, through the vestibule into the hall, and 
turning to the right into the living room, where 
he was found inspecting the pictures and win¬ 
dows until my daughter took him in hand and 
turned him over to me. I introduced him to 
my granddaughter as the bird that makes so 
many little round holes on the apple trees. He 
was a fighter from the start, continually peck¬ 
ing my fingers. 
We took him out to a large maple tree near 
the house, on which was a can of sap, into which 
I put his bill; after getting a taste of it he took 
three or four more swallows. 
I then put him on the rough bark of the tree, 
but he did not tarry there, immediately flying 
to a Norway pine, taking refuge in its heavy 
green foliage. 
I have often had woodpeckers brought to me 
that had been killed by flying against the trolley 
cars, but never before have I known of their 
going into a house. 
J. L. DAVISON, 
Pine Knob Farm, Lockport, N. Y. 
P. S.—This Sunday morning the whole family 
saw a sapsucker (probably the same one) peck¬ 
ing on the same Norway pine and then fly to 
the same maple tree, altbough there are fifty 
evergreen and maple trees around the house; 
perhaps he was looking for that can of sap, 
which had been removed. 
NEWTON 25 HIGH POWER. 
“What is the Newton 25 calibre high power? 
Is it a harder hitting rifle than the Springfield?” 
The Newton is a made-to-order Mauser of 
.256 calibre, taking the 123 grain expanding bul¬ 
let with a velocity of 3100 feet a second. Its 
trajectory is 8% feet at 1000 yards and its muz¬ 
zle velocity 2633 foot pounds. This figures a 
trifle over 200 foot pounds muzzle velocity more 
than the 1906 Springfield and much less recoil. 
Incidentally, Remington U. M. C., Peters and 
Winchester all make Spitzer expanding point 
bullets. 
You are reading “Forest and Stream’ and en¬ 
joying it. Why not furnish some of your 
friends who may not he acquainted zvith the 
good things in this issue, an hour or two of 
similar enjoyment? If you will take the trouble 
to send us the names of any of your circle of 
acquaintances, we will see that they are sup¬ 
plied with a sample copy zvith your compliments. 
