40 KEY TO G BOUSE AND QUAIL 



dying condition, giving at the same time a shrill 

 whistle, expressive of intense alarm. I stooj^ed 

 and put my hand upon his extended wings, and 

 could easily have caught him. The young birds, 

 at the cry of the parent, flew in all directions, 

 and their devoted father soon followed them, and 

 began calling to them in a low cluck." 



The Bob-white like the Partridge readily re- 

 sponds to protection, and when not shot at will 

 become very tame, even nesting about houses and 

 gardens. For three successive years Mrs. Mabel 

 Osgood Wright had broods raised in a tangle in 

 her garden, old and young ranging in the neigh- 

 borhood during the summer, but in the shooting 

 season returning to hide under a protecting hem- 

 lock hedge. 



The Ruffed Grouse and Bob-white are the only 

 members of their family we are likely to meet, 

 and there is no question of confusing such hen-like 

 birds with those of any other family, while there 

 is little danger of mistaking one for the other. 



Key to Male Grouse and Quail. 



Common Characters. — Hen-like birds 



that Uve on the ground. 

 1. Large (length about 17 inches). 



Euffs on shoulders ; dark bands on 



tail . . p. 32. Ruffed Grouse. 

 1'. Small (length about 10 inches). 



No ruffs on shoulders or bauds ou tail. p. 37. Bob- white. 



