Page:Bird-lore Vol 05.djvu/66

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The Heath Hen in New Jersey 51

killed one the others would stay and fight it, and you could keep on shooting until you killed as many as you liked. If you missed the first shot they would fly away. This kind of gunning went on until about thirty years ago There were lots of them left, plenty of deer and other game, until the gunners from the cities heard of it. They gunned in all seasons, and soon killed them off Since that time there has not been a Grouse killed on our Plains. l have seen five deer in one look, and now there is not one left in Burlington or Ocean county, These Plains Ispeak of are twelve miles west of Batnegat. There are several hundred acres in each and they are about three miles apart, with swamps and woods between them. The Plains are covered with small pines about three feet high. All through them there is a little vine that bears red berries about the size of a cranberry and keeps sound and good the year round. It is called the grouse berry. This berry the Grouse lived on in winteri In summer they lived on tea-berry and others, Yours respectfully, GEORGE H. VAN J'O'I‘E.


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