As a weed destroyer Boli-White has few if any superiors. During the insect 

 season his food consists of almost entirely of beetles, weevils, bug, grasshoppers, 

 cut worms and other pests of agriculture. 



The common name given to this bird in the eastern and middle districts of 

 our Union is that of the Quail, but in the western and southern states it is called 

 the Partridge. It is abundantly met with in all parts of the United States, but 

 more especially toward the interior. In the states of Ohio and Kentucky, where 

 these birds are very abundant, they are to be seen in the markets both dead and 

 alive in large quantities. 



This species performs occasional migrations from the northwest to the south- 

 cast, usually in the beginning of October, and somewhat in the manner of the 

 Wild Turkey. For a few weeks at this season the northwestern shores of the 

 Ohio River are covered with flocks of Quails. They ramble through the woods 

 along the margin of the stream and generally fly across toward evening. I>ike 

 the Turkeys, many of the Partridges fall into the water while thus attempting to 

 cross, and generally perish, for although they swim surprisingly, they have not 

 muscular power sufficient to keep up a protracted struggle, although when they 

 have fallen within a few yards of the shore they easily escape being drowned. 

 1 have been told by a friend that a person residing in Philadelphia had a hearty 

 laugh on hearing that I had described the Wild Turkey as swimming for some 

 distance when it had accidentally fallen into the water. But almost every species 

 of land bird is capable of swimming on such occasions, and you may easily 

 satisfy yourself as to the accuracy of my statement by throwing a Turkey, a 

 common fowl, or any other bird, into the water. As soon as the Quails have 

 crossed the principal streams in their way, they disperse in flocks over the 

 country and return to their ordinary mode of life. 



The flight of these birds is generally performed at a short distance from 

 the ground. It is rapid and is continued by numerous quick flaps of the wings 

 for a certain distance, after which the bird sails until about to alight, when again 

 it flaps its wings to break its descent. When chased by dogs or startled by any 

 other enemy, they fly to the middle branches of trees of ordinary size, w^here 

 they remain until danger is over. They w^alk with ease on the branches. If they 

 perceive that they are observed, they raise the feathers of their head, emit a 

 low note and fly oft" either to some higher branch of the same tree or to another 

 tree at a distance. When these birds rise on wnng of their own accord the 

 whole flock takes the same course, but when "put up" (in the sportsman's 

 phrase) they disperse; after alighting, call to each other, and soon after unite, 

 each running or flying toward the well-known cry of the patriarch of the covey. 

 During deep and continued snows they often remain on the branches of trees 

 for hours at a time. 



The usual cry of this species is a clear whistle, composed of three notes; the 

 first and last nearly equal in length, the latter less loud than the first, but more 



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