OCR Text |
Show DOMESTICATE THE PARTRIDGE. Such is the advice given by Mr. S. P. Eby, Lancaster, Penn. [Pennsylvania], in a recent paper before the local Farmer's Club. We quote some of his statements concerning the advantages of the plan, and the methods by which it may possibly be accomplished : We need some bird that can be turned into our grass and grain fields to hunt for insects without the liability of doing the injury to the crops that common fowl will necessarily do by its larger size and scratching propensities some smaller creature to fill the place between our barn fowls and the wild bird, whose usefulness can be controlled and directed to the points where most needed. The partridge, if tamed, would supply this want. Its natural haunts are grass and grain fields, and up to the time of harvest, lives mostly on insects. In addition to its usefulness, it is beautiful in appearance, harmless in habits, and of pleasant voice. Why should it not be domesticated or tamed? Its natural tendencies are strongly in that direction, and it would of itself become tame if only an opportunity would be offered. A little kindness shown, a little protection given to convince the bird that man is not longer its enemy, persecutor and destroyer, but a friend instead, would bring about the desired result. The whistling flock would before long draw nearer to man and his habitation to escape other enemies, of which it has many, and in winter season learn to feed with the poultry. This much gained, the following season the rest in all probability would not be far removed. Some of the eggs could be taken out and given to bantam or other small-sized fowls, while the partridge hen would still have enough to hatch and take care of. In the following autumn the home-raised and field-raised young could be let run together and taught to roost in some open shed, provided for that purpose in the orchard or other suitable corner of the farm. In this way, with patience and prudence, much might be accomplished. In the following spring the surplus males might be taken out for table or other use, and the flock left to pair about the farm, when the process of the previous year might be repeated. The difficulties to be encountered, in this and in all other new enterprises, would be in the beginning. You can put up notices against gunners and order off trespassers, and if they disregard either your notice or commands, you can punish them. With all the persecution to which the birds are annually subjected, "they become," as Wilson says, "almost half domesticated, approach the barn, particularly [unreadable line] season mix with the poultry to [unreadable] up a subsistence." They are not migratory, and remain with us the whole year, only shifting their quarters when driven by severe weather or when too much hunted. This is much in their favor. The turkey, in its wild state, is much less susceptible to being tamed, and the original of our common barnfowl can yet be found in the jungles of Java as wild as our pheasants. They have been domesticated, why not the partridge? |