FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 319 



small berries, especially strawberries {Frugaria), and raspberries and blackberries 

 {Knbiis). 



In June, this year, a fine male was brought to the writer. It had killed itself by 

 flying against a wire, near Ithaca, N. Y., and upon examination its crop and entire 

 enteron were found to be filled with wild strawberries. 



They are easily kept in a state of semi-domestication, .nid when not disturbed form 

 a very valuable and beautiful feature of a woods, large lawn, or park. 



There are but few birds that are more keenly alive to the benefits of protection or 

 the evils of persecution. When they are much hunted they become very wild and 

 scattered, like their cousins the Ruffed Grouse under similar circumstances. They 

 are more easily domesticated than the grouse, and we have often seen them around 

 the lawns or barnyards of persons who could appreciate and encourage them. There 

 they contentedly mingle at times with the domestic fowls or feed jo}-ously among the 

 pigs and cattle of the farm. 



Although it is true that they sometimes migrate, they are generally permanent 

 residents at any one spot where they find suitable conditions as to both open ground 

 and cover, food, water, and protection. 



The_\- breed throughout their entire range, or that part of North America in which 

 they occur, and ha\e one, two, or it is said sometimes three broods in a year, 

 according to latitude anil conditions. In the State of New York but one brood is 

 reared annually, although farther south there are more. Where there is but one 

 annual brood the number of eggs laid at one nesting is largest, being from fifteen to 

 thirtw tnit where there are two broods the number of eggs in the first nest is about 

 twelve to twenty, and in the second from ten to fifteen or fewer. Cold and damp 

 weather is very dangerous to the life of the young, and when they are about half grown 

 they are the favorite article of diet of almost all the carnivorous mammals and birds. 



Like the other members of this order, the quails when frightened fly up with such 

 a whirring noise as to startle any intruder by the sound produced by the rapid 

 vibrations of the wings in the air, but when taking flight to move from one place to 

 another of their own choice and not in the presence of supposed enemies, the whirring 

 sound is not audible. This is also true of the grouse. 



The covey keeps together, generally on the ground, and moves in harmony in the 

 same general direction, under ordinary circumstances ; but when an enemy appears 

 they scatter in every direction. Some may be seen alighting on the ground and 

 running, others remaining motionless after alighting, others hiding in bushes or 

 perching in trees. The beautiful valley quails or helmet quails of California when 

 disturbed always fly directly into the live oak trees and are at once efTectually 

 concealed and protected. At night and during rainy, snowy or very cold days, they 



