acquisition, however, can hope for large public support until the state 
conservation department has been re~organized along more stable and more 
technical lines. 
Deer, Karraker saya that wild deer of native stock did not disappear from 
Union County until about 1910, I recollect a statement made by Edward 
Runge that he had killed the last deer on Big Island, opposite the north- 
western corner of Hancock County, and as nearly as I ean calculate this 
must have been about in the 1860s or 70s. 
The 3 herds now existing in the state all represent escapes from 
captivity. The herd on the Illinois River near Urbana escaped about 20 
years ago and have now increased from 15 to 50 head, according to Baker, 
The 2 herds near Rockford numbering, according to Rowan, 20 and 22 head 
respectively, represent escapes from an abandoned deer farm, 
There seems to be little hope of the re-establishment of deer 
in a wild state except possibly in connection with state forests in 
southern Illinois. 
Squiyrels. Musselman told me that several fox squirrels were found dead 
on the ground in the neighborhood of Quincy. He suspects disease, possibly 
tularemia, although no human cases have occurred in that vicinity. 
Fox squirrels are fiserly common wherever sufficient timber per- 
sists. Gray squirrels are found only in the remnants of thick brushy woods, 
Doves. Illinois lies just on the eastern edge of the territory in whibh 
doves are of sufficient abundance to furnish shooting. In the Lake section 
several reports were heard that the birds were too scarce to warrant m 
open season, 
oS BAT a 

