The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-23
new GAME LOOSE.
Liberation Of Over
$50 Monaghan
Pheasants.
HARD BIRD TO REAR.
Work Of Worcester's Game
Protective Associa-
ton.

ton.
Worcester County Game Protective
Association has completed arrange.
ments for the liberation of $50 Mongo-
liam pheasants, and when these birds
have been put out, within the next two
months. the work of the organization.
as authorized by vote at the annual
meeting last winter, will be completed.
The work Of propagating these rare
game birds has been prosecuted quietly
ana unoStentatiouSly for some months,
and the result of the work is Just be-
coming apparent The association has
now 10 old birds, which have been used
throughout the nesting season as parent
stock, and these 40 prime birds Of eight
weeks of age will be liberated next
week. Besides these the association has
% birds three weeks old, 80 birds one
week old and $50 eggs in process of in
cubation. The loss by death before the
dangerous stage, is passed and the birds
reach the age of six weeks Is heavy
put Of the number of chicks on foot and
the number in prospect from the pres
ent setting of eggs, there appears to be
every reason that at least $50 birds will
be reared to maturity for an unwonted
home in Worcester county cover
The Monaghan pheasant is a hard
blrd to rear successfully. Although orig
inally domestic and barnyard fowl,
centuries of life in wild state has en-
nrely weaned him from any fondness
for man or his abode, and when once re-
turned to his freedom he Is Immediately
fleet of foot and strong of wing to pro-
tect himself
However, unlike the ruffed grouse, the
birds can be successfully raised by the
ordinary means, but the process re-
quires unceasing care besides a con-
siderable knowledge of the habits of the
birds. For the first five weeks after the
tiny chicks appear from the shell. they
Will brook no other food than yermin,
so that the successful pheasant raiser
must have his own little private plant
for raising maggots. They must be of
prime quality too, for the young pleas
ants are fussy in the extreme, and no
ordinary everyday vermin will tempt
their appetites. The dangerous stage
is passed at about the age of six weeks,
for at that time the young birds be-
gin to take to diet of grain and bugs,
and may be permitted to run within
reasonable confines. They are extreme
ly active and hard to handle.
The association has been about or
dlnarily successful in raising the birds
this season, and President A. B. f.
Kinney is of the belief that good be-
ginning has been made on the work.
which will be prosecuted faithfully for
number of years until the association
has been convinced of the success or
failure of the pheasant experiment.
Besides the birds that the protective
association have in hand there are two
broods in excellent condition at the
Wilkinsonville hatchery, where they
have been reared with surprising sue
cess and a small percentage Of loss nv
superintendent Merrill. The eggs were
Matched by tiny Pel1in bantam hens,
and the chicks take kindly to their I'M
natural mother
Every sportsman and indeed every &C.
casional gunner is reminded that when
these birds are liberated they will be
protected absolutely by the acts of 1885.
fixing the penalty of $40 for every bird
killed. Their gaudy plumage will make
them easily distinguishable by the
shooter, and there will be little or no
danger of the sportsman mistaking
them for the partridge when on the
wing. The association fears most that
many of the birds will be killed igno-
rantly by men who believe they are
bagging some rare unknown bird The
instance is recalled of the Sutton en-
thusiast who bagged pheasant, some
years ago, when a few sportsmen libef-
ated number Of the birds. The gun
ner returned triumphantly with his
rara avis, showed him with delight to
his friends, and finally had the gay
plumed bird mounted for a parlor orn-
ament. He was overcome when in
formed by a warden that he had com
mitted an offense against the game
laws of the state, and was liable to a
fine of $40 for his bird and his trou-
BILE.
The birds soon to be liberated by the
association will be in no danger FOR
some time, for careful arrangements
for their safety have been made The
birds will be put out in coops hid away
in thick cover, and will be under the
care of a guardian until they show evil
dence of being able to care for them
selves. They will be fed near their
coop and thus a home and abundant
food will be provided for them to which
they may return. When once the coop
is deserted and the birds disappear to
no longer return for food, this viii be
taken as evidence that they have found
suitable feeding ground, and no more
thought win be given for their safety.
When these birds are put out in this
manner, the association will close its
work of propagating and liberating
game birds for the year. The attention
of the organization will then be turned
to an active campaign for the enforce
ment of the game laws and the prohi-
bition of Illegal shooting. After the
I'd instituted last year, the ASSOC
citation will bear the expense of a spe-
cial game warden to look out for
snarers, to prohibit close time shooting,
and to enforce the new Sunday law,
which makes the Sabbath close season
under penalty OF 800 for every bird
killed, besides the former fire of $40 for
discharging a firearm on the Lords
day.
The splendid work done by Thomas
III. Davis, special warden of the asso-
citation. last year, is etill remembered
by violators of the law, and a vigorous
campaign will be again instituted along
lines that have proven successful.
Close time shooters will be followed
carefully throughout the month of
August and the association has abund-
ant funds in the treasury besides a
willing spirit, to make it uncomforta-
bly, warm for hotel men who follow the
practice of serving game dinners in the
FIRST two weeks of September, as well
for the men who supply their tables
with illegally killed birds.
1t is estimated by men in a position
to Judge that more birds fall into
snares every year than tumble before
the guns of legitimate shooters in half
a decade. The association has put out
many thousands Of quail this year, and
ie detarnined to see them protected nv