Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21
BIRD. RESERVATIONS
NATURALIST FROM THE WEST
VISITING THIS CITY.
viii Discuss Project With Secretary
Of Agriculture and Other Gov
eminent officials.

naturalist. who has had a wide experience
in the collection of living wild animals and
game birds. Is in this city in the interest of
q project for the establishment by the gov
eminent Of reservations in the southwest
for game birds. While here he will call on
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and other
government officials for the purpose of talk
ing the matter over and enlisting their sup
port.
Mr.. Payne has made long and careful
study Of the subject of animal life. and fur
the past nineteen years he has devoted his
energies exclusively to the collection Of AMI
mails and birds for scientific and propa-
eating purposes. Several years ago he was
active In the support of legislation which
took form In the Lacey bird law. passed by
Congress for the protection Of feathered
creatures Of various kinds.
In speaking this morning Of the proposal
for the establishment of reservations for
game birds Mr.. Payne said he believed that
the measure should be taken without delay.
He pointed out that in all probability the
opportunity of Congress to make the pro-
vision In question for the care and propa-
cation of birds would be passed within a
few years on account of the formation Of
new states In the territories of the south
west. After all of the territories have dis
appeared, he added, the setting apart of
tracts of land for this purpose can hardly
be expected.
Thrive at Small Expense.
Mr.. Payne asserted that game birds OF
practically every variety can live and thrive
in the southwest without extensive cost for
their maintenance In fact, he said, a prop
erly regulated reservation would be self
sustaining. He recommended that section Of
the country because his study of bird life
had led him to the conclusion that game
birds thrive much more readily there than
limited St4tea
Mr. Payne believes that the necessities Of
the case call for the establishment Of two
or three large reservations, of about ten
miles square each. In his opinion they
should be placed in an agricultural area and
should be, for the most part, under a con-
slant cultivation Of some grain or other
growth on which the birds might feed. He
called attention to the fact that on account
OF destroying insects the presence of the
birds would be a benefit to the farm lands
which might be included in the reseryati
which might adjon the tracts.
Mr.. Payne is also interested in pan for
furnishing the states of the middle section
of the country with fish bred in artificial
ponds. While In this city he will discuss
that matter with department officials.
Reservation for Buffaloes.
Mr. Payne was one Of the promoters of
the movement which resulted in the es-
adjustment Of the Wichita mountain for
est reservation for bufraloes. He stated
that arrangements are being made to put
the area in condition for accommodating
the eighteen or twenty buffaloes which had
been promised by the Bronx BIOLOGICAL AS
ISOLATION of New York. He expressed the
belief that the stock in the United States
could be prevented from becoming extinct
for practically indefinite period by the
setting apart of three or four such areas in
different sections of the country and by
proper care In breeding
The work Of Mr.. Payne is confined ex-
clusively to dealing in live stock. In the
course OF his experience he has handled
fully million quail and about SO, 900 Jack
rabbits The rabbits are caught in great
nets three miles long, inclosing an area in
which horsemen chase the animals into
pockets" where they are collected AS
many as ninety have been caught in one
day.
In the case Of elephants Mr.. Payne has
made an exception to the rule not to handle
dead animals. He has the distinction of
having skinned and skeletonized three ele-
plants. two of which weighed about 5000
pounds each.
Mr.. Payne believes that the laws in this
section Of the country. and especially in the
District. should be more liberal in regard to
the caging Of hooking birds and other fea-
thered songsters for the purposes Of adding
cheerfulness to the home.