12 BULLETIN 162, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



iittle conqueror enjoys the spoils of victory, the acceptance of his 

 suit by the modest little hen, who now knows that she has picked a 

 winner. 



Herbert L. Stoddard (1931), in his excellent and exhaustive mono- 

 graph on the bobwhite, published by the committee on the Coopera- 

 tive Quail Investigation, has added to our knowledge a vast fund of 

 information on the habits of this valuable species, its enemies, dis- 

 eases, and means for preserving and increasing it, based on a five 

 years' study in cooperation with the Biological Survey. Anyone 

 interested in this subject should study this voluminous report, as 

 our space will permit only brief extracts from it. 



As to the breaking up of the coveys in the spring, which "are 

 usually composed of the remnants of several hatchings," he says 

 that " many of the birds are not closely, if at all, related." At this 

 season, "cocks, which had been peaceable companions previously, 

 became pugnacious," and frequent fights occurred. In the inclosures 

 the fights were harmless, as a rule, but in the wild " an occasional 

 combat no doubt proves fatal, for two dead cock quail that had been 

 picked up afield were brought to us with the flesh bitten to the bone 

 at the junction of head and neck." 



Referring to the courtship display, he writes : 



This display is a frontal one. The head is lowered and frequently turned 

 sideways to show the snowy-white head markings to the best advantage, the 

 wings are extended until the primary tips touch the ground, while the elbows 

 are elevated over the back and thrown forward, forming a vertical feathered 

 wall. The bird, otherwise puffed out to the utmost in addition to the spread, 

 forward-thrust wings and lowered, side-turned head, now walks or advances 

 in short rushes toward the hen, and follows her at good speed in full display 

 in case she turns and runs. 



Some evidence was obtained to indicate that some mated pairs 

 remain mated during winter and for at least two breeding seasons. 

 As to the devotion of mated pairs, he says : 



Two weeks to a month may elapse, depending on the weather, between the 

 time of pairing and the beginning of nesting. During this period the pairs 

 appear inseparable, the hen usually taking the lead in foraging expeditions, 

 with the cock a devoted follower. He is very attentive at this time, as indeed 

 he is all during the breeding season, unless he takes up incubation duties, 

 when he appears to lose interest in the opposite sex. It is amusing to see 

 him catch a grasshopper or other large insect after a lively chase. He puffs 

 himself up and, holding the insect out in a stiff, wooden manner, starts a 

 soft, rapidly repeated cu-cu-cu-cu to attract his mate, who rushes to him and 

 eats the dismembered insect. This common habit may be frequently observed 

 all during the breeding season, the hen usually being the one to get the insects 

 caught by the cock, even when the pair are rearing a brood. 



Nesting. — The bobwhite's nest is a very simple affair, but artfully 

 concealed and seldom found, except by accident, as the bird is a very 



