PIGEONS, QUAILS, GROUSE. Bob-white 



roll out, but they seldom do. Meanwhile she coos regret- 

 fully, but does not see her way to bettering things, saying, 

 " I know that I'm a poor housekeeper, but it runs in our 

 family " ; but when the Doves choose a flattened-out Robin's 

 nest for a platform, the nestlings fare very well. 



Though inhabitants of woodlands, these birds are coyly 

 sociable and always build a nest or two in the garden. They 

 usually choose the pines and spruces, and put the nest close 

 to the trunk where two adjoining branches start ; sometimes 

 the nest will be twenty feet from the ground, but it is usu- 

 ally lower. The monotonous cooing, which gives them their 

 name, is a rather desolate sound except as it blends with the 

 morning chorus. 



They seldom feed upon insects ; but prefer seeds of various 

 sorts, and glean grain from the fields after harvest, though 

 I have never seen them take it from the ear, and they can- 

 not be said to do any damage. The young are easily tamed, 

 if taken from the nest, and make very gentle and attractive 

 pets, but are of too gross a habit to be kept in the house. 



ORDER GALLING: GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



FAMILY TETRAONIDiE: GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 

 Bob-white; Quail: Colinus virginianus, 



Plate 65. Fio. 1. 



Length : 10.50 inches. 



Male and Female : Crown feathers slightly crested. White forehead ; 

 eye line and throat patch edged with dark. Above variegated 

 reddish brown flecked with black, white, and tawny. Below 

 whitish, warming on the sides to reddish, with dark streaks. 

 In female the forehead, throat, and eye stripes are buffy. Bill 

 rusty black. 



Note: "Bob-white! Bob-white f^^ Sometimes also ♦•Poor-Bob- 

 white." 



Season : Resident. 



Breeds : Throughout range ; pairs here in April. 



Nest : Small twigs and grass in a ground hollow. 



Eggs : 10-15, white and blunt. 



227 



