Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-15
psrtridoes as Tame as Hens.


Association on its great reservation in
Plymouth County has been Supt. Har-
ny II. Torrey's ability to domestieata
partI idges. Supt. Torrey has achieved
some wonderful things in the course
of his work but the tanning of part
ridges is among the most conspicuous.
as partridges are generally held TO be
exceedingly wild and uncontrollabie.
The fact that Supt. 'Forrey has PROV
ed beyond question that partrdges can
be domesticated is shown by a visit TO
the immense tract of between 5000 and
5000 acres which has been set apart by
the American Game Protective and
Propagation Association. The accom-
panying photographs are additional eV-
idence and reveal the friendship that
exists between Mr.. Toryey and these
birds. as well as between the birds and
the splendid type Of bird dog owned
by Mr. Torrey.
The plan which has been followed
has been an ingenious and yet Il most
humane one. No suffering has come to
any of the cartridges, and that they
have thrived and enjoyed the expert
cnce is not doubted.
Last year. when the work began.
nests Of partridses We're sought out
and feedisg grounds were established
This was to encourage the cartridges
to make these various parts of the
reservation their regular food eenters
AS had been hoped, the partridges APP
preciated what was being done for
them, and nested in the vicinity of the
base of supplies, so TO speak.
closely
movements of the birds, and when he
saw a mother partridge seated on a
nest of eggs he kept sharp supervision
over her. When, in his opinion, the
date of Matching was not more than
three days distant Mr.. Torrey brought
the nest into the coop near his house.
A bantam hen, whose weight was
about equal to that of the mother par
fridge was placed upon the nest of
partridge eggs, and the Matching was
left 10 her. The bantam hen proved
worthy of her trust, and within the es-
,imateG time there came forth nest
of young partridgcs.
Meantime the male and female par
fridge from whose nest the eggs have
been taken find an ample food supply
at their disposal, and later an opportu-
nifty to find their young again.
A considerable problem in providing
the proper food for the young and ten
der partridges was encountered and
much study was required. 1t was
finally discovered that ant eggs fur
nshed an excellent diet, and that upon
this the tiny cartridges grew and
flourished.
Not only We're cases of ant eggs inn
ported, but Supt. Torrey went to work
TO grow ant eggs on the reservation.
He found that beneath old stumps
here and there ant eggs would be
gathered underneath them. The result
was that now there are about two
acres of the reserva ton devoted to ant
hills IN one form ard another
As the voting partridge grow they
pin their faith to Supt. Torrey and fol-
low him about at feeding time like Il
flock OF hens. He has only % appear
y it'll dish of feed ana flock of
young cartridges gather about him
just as hers do Furthermore. the lit
tie birds eat out of his hand and enjoy
sitting on his lap and jumping about
his arms and shoulders
Stranger still is the bond of com
IdueSillp that tltS ltStl tSAittiifaftT VI
| through the efforts OF Supt, Torrey,
between a bird dog and his natural
enemy, the partridge. No thought of
enmity exists between this dog AND the
partridges, and they mop about him as
| he is lying down and sit on the top Of
! his head or wherever their fancy leads
them. The best of it is that the dog
| likes it and keeps lookout for the
safety of his little friends.
Supt. Torrey has tanned other wild
birds, including several hawks. 1t vas
necessary for him to capture these
! birds that the others might no. be in
! jured by them. Instead of Killing tho
| hawks Mr.. Torrey Gagged them AID with
| patience managed to get them 50 they
would eat and behave almost as orderly
| as the good old hens.
AS has been said the male and fe-
male partridges from whom the eggs
We're taken are able to rejoin their
young in great cage in the reserva-
ton in which the chicken cartridges
are finally put so that the donesticat-
ing process is carried On without dis
turbine the happy relations of the par
| fridge family.-Boston Globe.