The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-05-02
A Unique Country Club
By Frederick J. Haskin

There is club in the country near
Washington which numbers among its
habitues representatives of nearly all
the tribes of wild animals and birds
found in this part of the country.
Rabbits, grouse and foxes, raccoons
and opossums all enjoy a sort of as
sociate membership-that is, they are
welcome to the premises, and are not
disturbed
This club was founded by a number of
Washington biologists some years ago,
and it is located on the upper Potomac.
Its property consists of so acres of
wild land, including an island in the
river, and a log cabin, which the mem
bers use as headquarters when pur-
suing their investigations. The place
is carefully protected from trespassers
by friendly neighbors when none of the
members is present.
The purpose of the scientists in found
ing this club was to make a study of
every form of life which occurs in this
part of the country. Among the mem
bers of the club are specialists in al
most all branches of life which occurs
upon typical tract of land in this part
of the country. Among the mem
bers of the club are specialist in al
most all branches of biology. They
have already investigated everything
from the minute algae of the river
water to the large quadrupeds which
occasionally visit the premises.
To the layman so acres seems al
together too small an area for such a
study; but the scientists selected the
site for their club with care. 1t in
cludes slopes with exposures to the
east, west, north and south; sandy soil
and clay, dry knobs, bit of swamp,
heavy forest and cultivated land
Thus it offers to visiting and resident
wild things every sort of food and
shelter which the region affords, and,
in addition, it gives them protection
from gunners. AS result, two coyles
OF quail have made it their permanent
residence, as have many rabbits and
squirrels, while ruffled grouse visit the
place every fall. One of them was
once found sitting on the porch of the
clubhouse. And this place is only a
few miles from great city, and one
mile from noisy amusement park.
The biologists are here able to make
studies of the habits of wild birds and
animals extending over several years.
For example, DR.. A. X. Fisher, of the
Biological Survey, has been trying for
some time to solve & problem in the
breeding habits OF the bob white par
fridge. Each summer two broods of
partridge are raised at the club, and in
the autum there are sometimes nearly
80 birds on the tract. Some of these
stray off and are killed by gunners, and
some die of cold in the winter, but gen.
orally about half of them SURVIVE until
spring. AT that time, however, all
disappear except two pair, which again
rear their broods. Although hundreds
of the birds have been produced and
protected on the place in the past few
years, never more than four nest there.
The birds seem to understand that there
are only housekeeping accommodations
for two families and that all the rest
must emigrate when the mating season
arrives. How they decide which shall
go and which remain is d mystery.
Where the migrants 90 is also a mys-
terry, for the scientists are familiar
with the surrounding country, know
every convey of birds in the vicinity,
and have never been able to detect any
addition to them. DR.. Fisher now
plans to catch the birds in traps, put
bands upon their legs, such as are used
by pigeon fanclers, and release them
again. Anyone who kills banded quail
will be asked through notices in the
newspapers, to notify the Biological
Survey. In this way the scientists
hopes to shed light on a mystery in the
life of Bob White.
The biologists have set aside this
tract of land for their investigations,
not only because wild animals and birds
are becoming rare, but because the
wild flowers and other plants having an
ornamental value are being no less
rapidly exterminated. With the COM
ing of the automobile and the crowds of
pleasure-seekers which it carries into
the country, such plants as the dog
wood, the holly, the ground pine and
the wintergreen, which are esteemed
as decorations, are disappearing from
the vicinity of Washington and other
large cities. This is almost wholly due
to the thoughtless vandalism. People
do not seem to realize that the plants
growing in bit of woodland are as
much the property of the owner as his
apple trees or his corn crop, and NAV
he equally valuable to him. They seam