Mayhew 1948 Journal 15. March 13 8 miles west of Gridley, Butte Co., Calif. crows. Of 31 other nests, 7 were "dump" nests, 0 abandoned, 3 hatched, 21 destroyed by coons or skunks. Of 65 other nests, 22 were "dump" nests, 4 abandoned, 17 hatched, 12 destroyed. House cats seem to do more damage toward the end of nesting season. The loss of game farm birds & house cats is high. Poaching cuts the pheasant population somewhat, but it has dropped off lately. Cold in the east & mid-west causes damage to young chicks, but it is thought that dryness causes the damage in California. It has been found that hens lay 30-40 eggs per year, but the average clutch size is 10.8 eggs. The rest of the eggs are deposited in "dump" nests. The fertility of the eggs in "dump" nests average 94%, that in good nests 98%, that on game farms 92. From May 1 to the end of June, these men make brood counts. This is done by driving down the road in a car in early morning & late evening. About July 1, experimental plantings of game farm birds is begun. About October 1, they prepare for the hunting season. (The age of the birds can be determined by the presence of a bursa in the dorsal wall of the cloaca in young birds, minute or absent bursa in old birds) Hunters took 78% of the total birds killed