Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-18

in connection with them. Their activ- ity as destroyers of insects was en- phasized. For instance, it was shown how the leopard moth larva, which imbeds itself in the inner bark of the elnls and girdles the limb of the tree, was the main present cause of the de- struction of the elms in our towns and cities, that Is. wherever the wood peckers and other native birds are driven out. Man can never compete with this pest, only the birds.
 Following this a few pictures were shown of sandpipers running on the beach, and other shore birds. Many of these have been nearly exterm1nat- ed by ruthless slaughter of gunners. They are beautiful and useful, and 1t is hoped that the new federal legisla- tion. thruogh the Weeks Mclean bill: now a law, will accomplish great good.
 Raising of Pheasants.
 Next were shown a series of in- forming photographs of pheasants, quail, and partridge or ruffed grouse, showing the present encouraging sta tion of the wor3s of the artificial pro- pagation of these species The pro- pagation of pheasants is thoroughly successful and profitable. even on a large scale. The raising of quail Is beginning to show progress and some Storrs have laid the basis for new methods in the future, based on the discovery that young quail will stay with bantam foster-mother, even under entire liberty, and grow to ma turity under natural conditions in the open, which solves the problem of artificial feeding and of unduly close confinement. The problem of the ruffed grouse is more difficult but photographs of birds raised to matur ity were shown, proving that under proper conditions 1t can be done cer- tafrly On small scale. Many intimate details of game bird propagation meth ods were given.
 Wild Ducks in Manitoba.
 Lastly were shown wonderful series of photographs of wild ducks, both of adults in the wild state and stock for breeding hand reared birds, that had never learned wild ways, Mr. Job conducted a government expedi- ton last summer to Manitoba, north west Canada. In camp he and his son matched out wild dueks's eggs of eight kinds in ineubators. The hatch for the season was S2 per cent, of which most were safely brought 2,oee miles, to Connecticut were raised te matur- itv. and are now being experimented with for breeding this season on the great preserve at Norfolk, Conn.,, eWH- ed by Messrs Wolcott and Chiids of New York.
 In Connecticut
 It was also shown how, by protec- ton and feeding, many thousands of wild ducks are attracted each season to another private preserve in Connec- ticut. Methods of attracting and of artificial propagation could be work ed out togetehF for increasing bird life by the state, or for private profit The instance was quoted. on the au- thority of Dr. William T. Hernaday, where the Clover Valley club, not far from New York city, raised and sold last season 4,5o0 wild mallards. and cleared S2,000. Wallace Evans of Oak Park. H., present owner of a great commercial game farm, 20 years or so agu was a poor boy who had a few ph heasant coops in a back yard in South Chicago. Today he is reputed to be a millionaire, through breeding game birds and wild water fowl. New York state has gone into breeding pheasants for public distribution. Last season they raised 5000 young pheas- ants. and by distributing eggs caused the production by the public of 10000 more. The average cost per pheasant was about 33 cents each, whereas in Connecticut the buying of thousands of foreign birds, which promptly dis appeared, averaged $4 each.
 The speaker commended the grange organization for it's good work and in terest in the protection and increase of useful birds, and asked for further cooperation along the line for fur ther efforts in this state.