The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-22

E. Knight Sperry's Humane Device
 Appeal of Fish and Game warden
 BaiIey-Conditions Which Menace
 Bird Existence-Method of Distribu-
 ting Proposed.
 Tn accordance with his annual GUS tom, our townsman, MT. E. Knight Sperry, brother of Congressman Sper- ", has continued his receptacle in Woodprldge, on the Sperry farm, for the feeding of birds for the winter months, and many birds have found MT. Sperry friend in need during the indictment weather which we have had during this month. The arrangement is an ingenious affair, constructed from plans prepared by MT. Sperry himself. whereby food is set out for the use of the birds and at the same time protect ed from all animals and the elements. He also has a similar plan in operation on the game preserve in East Hampton in which he is interested.
 In connection with this tender heart ed solicitude of MT. Sperry for the birds comes the appeal of Edward H. Bailey, of Danbury. fish and game warden, in which he says:
 l would like to call the attention of all the sportsmen in tha vicinity and all others, that are interested in the propagation of game birds, to the con ditions that are existing at present. owing to the heavy storms that have visited this section within the past few days. With view of determining just how the birds were weathering the storms, several parties. of which I was one, went out in the country Saturday and yesterday, and we have found that the birds are in ieplorable condition for lack of shelter and sustenance, and that if they are not relieved at once comparatively few quail will survive the winter.
 While partridge are hardy and will look out for themselves. quail subsist on the seeds of weeds. etc, and must also have more or less grit matter to aid digestion. At present these cannot be found by them. To illustrate the situation as we found it we sought out a flock of quail that we knew to have numbered nine but short time ago. We found the birds, but there were but seven left, and one of these was frozen to death. On opening the bird we found that it had eaten a number of sumach berries, which we understand Is not one of the foods ordinarily eaten by quail, The others were in aspitiable plight, having no life and would run about like chickens, apparently having no strength to wing. Another party went out yesterday and found flock of five quail very near town. These were also in a sad blight. One of the number was straved unto death and the sportsman brought | it home, hoping that with care he might be able to pull the bird through and release it when better conditions exist
 It is not alone a lack of food that will I decimate a flock of quail at this time, as there is another foe in the hawk. At this time quail have no cover and hakw will exterminate a flock in short order This can be obviated in a meas. ure if those disposed to do so will scat- 1 ter brush or corn stalk in pile, leav- ling a small opening in under where the birds may feed and roost. This cover should be at least six feet square and about eighteen inches from the ground. A hawk cannot then sec the birds. This should be open on ali sides else the birds may be the prey of a fox, The third menace is extreme cold, which cannot be combated more suc- cessfully than by supplying the birds with plenty to eat.
 ! All sportsmen hereabouts will realize what we have had to cope against in the matter of game propagation in the past several years. We have raised moneys and sent away and procured western birds. Those are the birds that we must now try and save if we. lexpect hunting next fall. Quail are. lnow at an almost prohibitive price, the quotations being standard at ten dol lars per dozen. There have been years before when we could not get birds, and foi this reason we must all band to-' gether and make strenuous effort to protect the ones now in this section.
 We ought, in my opinion, to contrib lute few cents apiece, which would make an aggregate sum that would lbuy enough feed to supply all the quail lin the section during the winter months.
 1 Another word as to means for distrib-
 uting food. I feel that there are many farmers hereabouts that would gladly
 scatter feed to the birds if they were given the grain by us. A great many
 do so now and have ever done, using
 their own grain. However we would
 be glad to furnish the grain if we were notified of parties that would use it.
 I would gladly hear from any one
 that is aware of the location of any flock of quail, and I would undertake to see that they are fed.