BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 157 



ply are not yet developed. Of course during the late autumn, 

 winter and early spring, they depend upon seeds, grain and 

 buds, out only the unavoidable waste of the farm and garden. 

 During these seasons, if possible, they should have the great- 

 est measure of legal protection against hunters and trapi)ers. 

 for then must they become most available to them, being 

 driven by the necessities of food to the vicinity of outhouses, 

 barns, straw-stacks and dwellings. Their habits at the dif- 

 ferent seasons of the year afford one of the most interesting 

 studies of birdlife. Protect them and they rapidly become 

 tame and confiding. 



In my early boyhood in western New York, I was led to 

 habits of observation of birds in winter, by this species more 

 than any other. Following the example of older observers, 

 whose interest was not as disingenuous as mine. I often 

 caught several of them at a time in a lath-trap of the figure 

 four kind, and in a few hours had them sufficiently domesticated 

 to eat freely of corn and wheat dropped down to them through 

 the slats, and within a week, upon setting them free, instead of 

 flying away never to return they were afterwards to be seen 

 daily feeding amongst the hens and the cattle in the barnyard. 

 I am happy to say that I never permitted my love for "quail 

 on toast" to appropriate one these who had thus confided in me. 



It seems to be superfluous to give any sjiecific description 

 of this bird, yet for those whose opportunities have been less 

 favorable, from having long resided so far north where the 

 circumstances have been unfortunate for their multiplication, 

 I will say that the Quail measures about 10 inches in length; 

 the wing, 4.70; and tail 2.85. Their color is a bright reddish- 

 brown, streaked frequently with black, shading into gray. 

 The under parts are white with zigzag lines of black crosswise. 

 The throat of the male is much whiter than that of the female. 

 It is found in the middle and western states, including Canada 

 West and Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains. 



I have learned from Rev. Mr. Gear, who was an army chap- 

 lain, stationed at several fortifications from time to time in the 

 earliest history of Minnesota, that there were no Quails here 

 until imported and set at liberty by the sportsmen amongst 

 the army officials on different occasions, but the want of food 

 and covert in severe winters prevented their material increase 

 in numbers until the advent of general farming. 



Only one or two flocks have yet been seen as far north as 

 Red Lake Falls and at a few j)oints in the latitude of Otter Tail. 



