The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-08
SAVING THE HEATH HEN.
What the State of Massachusetts, Is
Doing to Preserve Flock of Birds.


What the State of Massachusetts Is
Doing to Preserve Flock of Birds.
The island of Marthas Vineyard
has the distinction Of being the abid-
ing place of a species of the feathered
tribe which Is found in no other
place in the whole world; and this
statement, says the Boston Trans
Iscript, is the more remarkable when
it is considered that at one time in
the country's history these birds were
scattered thickly throughout the
whole Of the territory between. Cape
Ann and Virginia,
This almost extinct bird is the pin
mated grouse or heath henj or, as 1t is
called for short, the "heathern." It
was from heath hen, said to have
been found in Virginia, that Linnaeus
described the prairie hen or prairie
chicken, and 1t was not until long
years after this distinguished nat
uralist had been gathered to his faith
ers that William Brewster of Cam
bridge, an eminent ornithologist made
! the interesting discovery and gave it
to the world that the heath hen of
the Atlantic coast states and the
prairie chicken Of the range lands Of
the middle west were two distinct spe-
cies.
To the ordinary observer who only
notes the difference between the crow
and the blackbird by stating that both
are black, only the crow is larger than
the blackbird this same answer might
be given in relation to the prairie
chicken and the heath hen, for they
seem alike in color but the former
| is larger than the latter But when
they are examined carefully there are
many distinguishing differences which
are accurately noted in all modern
bird books to which the student or
those particularly interested can
readily refer.
In little reservation which these
birds seem to have picked out as a
place where they may quietly end
their existence there are now about 100
specimens. Doubtless these would
have disappeared entirely had 1t not
been for the activity Of the Fish COM
mission of the Commonwealth, Now
active steps have been taken to stop
their destruction and to re-establish
them among the game birds of the
country. Even now" the commits
ssion states, the number is so reduced
that the killing of one bird may have
serious effects"
A hundred years ago these birds
were so numerous and so common an
article of food that in some of the
New England States penalty was
provided by law, to be inflicted upon
any master who should feed his ap-
prentice with the flesh oftener than
twice a week; to-day it would cost an
epicure, should he venture to tickle
his palate with one of these birds, the
sum of $500, and several other dollars
on the side Or. George w, Field,
chairman of the commission, is most
enthusiastic in the efforts that are be-
ing made to insure the perpetuation of
this species. He has studied the hen
on its native heath, learned its little
eccentricities and conceits and has
urged upon the legislature the neces-
sity of immediate action, and from all
appearances the heather is destined
to live and become a feature in the
bird life of the Commonwealth,
But the saving of this bird is not
altogether for the purpose of killing
him when he gets more numerous. 1t
may be that the heath hen is the very
enemy for which we have been seek
ing to externinate the gypsy moth Its
food in the summer time is largely of
insects, and from its habit of perching
upon the low branches of trees it has
a most excellent opportunity of get