The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12


r tho eats c%hampioncd by
L dozens Of kind hearted women.
the hawks protected 10y statute
William Day Is working to preserve
and restore to its former abundance
tho now almost extinct heath hen. MIR.
Day is superintendent of the Massa-
chusetta state reservation on the
island of Martha's Vineyard, the only
heath hen preserve in the world.
The heath hen is described as the
originator Of the new tangled dances,
the first exponent Of the turkey trot,
game bird worthy Of the attention Of
sportsmen. once at home IN the open
lands of New England, New York and
New Jersey. and now driven from them
to make it's last stand for life on this
little island off the Massachusetts
coast.
The heath hen n hundred years ago
might well have beer considered the
future game bird OF New England and
the Middle States. 1t was distributed
a.ong the Atlantic seaboard from Cape
Ann in Massachusetts to Virginia and
# was abundant n the low open lands
of Massachusetts,, Connecticut and
New York, especially on Long Island.
As the settlement Of the land and
the clearing away OF the forests re-
striCted the area Of the ruiiied grouse,
the quail and the partridge, the range
OF the heath hen was proportionately
increased. II was not primarily a
forest bird and the opening of the
country b~roadened its feeding ground
and increased the supply Of seeds and
insects. But the bird fell easy prey
to the hunter. II was shot and trapped
at all seasons n the young were
destroyed by dogs and cats. The asst
specimen recorded from New York
was X led in the Comac Hills of Long
Island IN 1886.
Tho heath hen had disappeared from
the mainland and vas rcleyatcd 10 the
island of Martha's Vineyard-twenty
miles long and six miles wide-before
Massachusetts took any measures Of
protection. Her policy was weak and
vaCillat.ng and the heath hen rapidly
dwindled in numbers. on May .,
1907. the State Fish and Game Conn
m.ssioncrs could find but twenty-o1e
b!rGj IN the island.
These were all the heath hens left
in existence. Thus a game bird
adapted by natare to New England.
ever capable of living in a section of
the country well settled and open. was
on the point of humiliation. Prompt
agitation on the part Of "A few Vine
yardors savoe the heath hen from the
fasc Of The passenger pigeon. john l.
HoNlard, a Vineyard sportsman. was
tie first to realize the immediate need
OF action.
Or. George W. Field. chairman Of
he Massachusetts, Commission on
Fisheries and Game, was interested in
The situation. lie collected funds from
bird lovers all over the country and
secured a state appropriation. Then
q small farm was purchased as a
heath hen preserve. To-day the State
owns 700 acres outright and leases
1000 acres.
The State reservation lies nut In
the centre Of the great plain Of
Martha's Nincyand. II is four mile.
Ia the nearest town. The superinten,
cents only neighbor is his farm
e!per, who lives a mile away. Tn,
plain Is covered with scraggly scrut
OAKS. Here and there a slight ridge
Of a rolling hill breaks the level con,
tour. The vergrow roads that ruI
through the plain are sandy and harC
of passage. No one goes that wa
except 10 visit the reservation, ant
for. weeks at a time in winter tn,
little family see no other faces thar