The Heath Hen in New Jersey
ln preparing a report on the game-birds of New Jersey for the game commission of that state, the editor of BIRD - LORE recently visited Barnegat. N. 1., to secure from professional gunners there information in regard to the game-birds of the region. In discussing the status of the Ruffed Grouse, Mr. George H. Van Note spoke of a "Grouse" which was said to be common west of Barnegat “about thirty years ago.” The identity of the bird was not suspected at the time; but later, on referring to .\Ir. Stone's excellent ' Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey,’ it was learned that Turnbull, writing of the Heath Hen in [869, said, "Now very rare. A few are still met with in Monroe and Northampton counties,‘ Pennsylvania, where I have shot the species. Within the last year or two it has also been found on the Jersey Plains.“ (‘ Birds of Eastern Pennsyl- vania and New lersey.’ p. 27.)
Both date and locality given in the last sentence quoted agreed with the information received from Mr. Van Note, who, in response to a request, wrote the following exceedingly interesting letter, adding more to our knowledge of the Heath Hen in New Jersey than was previously recorded, and rendering plain the CmISe of its extinction. It will be remembered that the Heath Hen is now confined to the island of Martha's Vineyard. and that it became extinct on Long Island as early as 1844 (see Giraud's L Birds of Long Island,‘ p. 195).
MR. VAN NOTE‘S LETTER
BARNEGAT, January 31. 1903. MR. FRANK M. CHAPMAN:
Dmr Sirx—l have been away from home. On my return. I find your letter, and will answer it by saying that the Grouse you speak of were the color of a Quailt The male bird had a top knot and some long feathers under his throat, in which there was a pouch that he would fill with wind and blow. which could be heard for two or three miles. The noise was like that of a man blowing in a conch-shell, antl was a means of calling other birds to it. They were as large as a Guinea Hen. They would have several places to collect: generally a clear place on the Plains. When together. the male bird would start around with his wings on the ground, like a Turkei gobbler, giving a sort of a whistle. When flying they would raise ten to twelve feet high and go straight as a line. Thei bred on the plains, and were always found on them. There were lots of them forty years ago. The way they killed them at that time was to dig a hole in the ground and remove all the sand, so as to make the ground level. then hide in this hole until they came to you. If you
(So)
