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July, 1912 PRESENT AND FUTURE STATUS O1' CALIFORNIA VALLEY QUAIL 137 caused by threadworms (Nematodes), called strongylosis, has also been in- strumental in destroying large numbers of these birds. Coccidiosis is a serious disease, the birds attacked by it usually dying from the effects. Whether Cali- fornia valley quail under natural conditions have ever been known to contract the disease I have not been able to ascertain. Such a protozoan disease as this, if it should attack our quail, would doubtless prove a serious lnenace; but fortu- nately there seems to be no immediate danger. At the present time, therefore, disease cannot be considered an important factor. Weather conditions perhaps have more effect on birds which nest on the ground and on birds with the habits of the quail than on other birds. T.S. Van Dyke says on this point: "Extreme drouth is the only natural thing that reduces them. They increase enough to supply the hawks, foxes, wild cats, and owls, and can stand even a reasonable amount of shooting. But when the winter rains fail to make seed enough for its ravenous appetite, this quail knows well before too late. It then declines to mate and remains all summer in the big armies of the preceding year." That quail are able to foretell weather conditions and shortage of food is doubtful; but the fact that quail sometimes remain in flocks during the breeding season has been noted by other observers. Even here we see that the weather conditions are only concerned because they effect food supply. In'breeding is sometimes put forth as a reason for decrease, but it can hardly be substantiated by fact. Chickens are often known to inbreed for long pe- riods of time without any apparent diminution in vitality or productiveness. Besides, the quail wander over large enough areas so that there is little danger of effective inbreeding. Then, too, there is no good reason why there should be very much more inbreeding now than there was twenty years ago when every one admitted that quail were in a thriving condition. The fact that quail, even in places where there were small numbers, have greatly increased under suffi- cient protection, seems in a measure to disprove this theory. Quail being non- migratory, isolation caused by the cultivation of large tracts ol land would bring about favorable conditions for inbreeding. The extent to which such iso- lation could be brought about by intensive cultivation is problematical. The question awaits future development, and so further consideration at this time is not pertinent. Last. but not least, comes hunting as a factor in the increase or decrease of birds. In many places this has been the most important factor in causing a decrease in numbers. ?Vith the increased traveling facilities, and the in- creased efficiency of firearms, this aspect of the question is yearly becoming more and more important. Twenty years ago hunting involved not only con- siderable time but considerable inconvenience; today, with the automobile and the increased transportation facilities, a hunt involves but little time and almos? no inconvenience. The comparative destruction possible with a muzzle-loader or even with a single-barreled breech-loading shotgun, and an automatic, brings forcibly to mind one of the causes for the decrease in game birds during' the last few years. Shooting from automobiles, a practice of the present day, is an easy way of filling the game bag but is a dangerous practice when viewed from the standpoint of conservation. Most game birds, on account of their pro- lificness, can withstand a certain amount of shooting; but the wholesale slaugh- ter, now made possible by improved methods. undoubtedly oversteps the danger point.