THE BOB-WHITE. 561 



and across aiiriculars coalescing behind with narrow breast-band of same color; 

 enclosed space pure Zi'hite; breast and belly white or bulTy white, narrowly and 

 finely cross-barred with black, nsually with disconnected brace-shaped markings ; 

 chest mingled heavily or slightly with vinaceous-rufous below the black band; 

 sides and flanks broadly striped with cinnamon-rufous, marked with black and 

 white and blending with pattern of wing; bill black. Adult female: Similar to 

 male, but throat and superciliary line deep buff instead of white ; black of throat, 

 cheek-band, and crown merely indicated by blackish spots : general coloration a 

 little more subdued. This bird varies interminably within the limits laid down ; 

 no two birds are exactly alike, and albinistic and melanotic specimens are not rare. 

 Spring birds are brighter colored than fall specimens. Length 9.50-10.75 (241.3- 

 273.1); wing 4.33 (iio); tail 2.33 (59.2): bill .56 (14.2). Females average a 

 little smaller than males. 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; not crested; white throat of male and 

 buffy throat of female distinctive; zi'ah-quoit notes. 



Nesting. — Xest: on ground, a mere depression, indift'erentlv lined with 

 grasses, leaves, etc. Eggs: 10-26. usually about 18, white, pure or nest-stained ; 

 pyri form-ovate. Av. size, 1.20 .\ .94 (30.5x23.9). Season: May 20-June 10; 

 one or two broods according to latitude. 



General Range. — Eastern United States and southern Ontario, from south- 

 ern Maine to the South .Atlantic and Gulf States, west to central South Dakota, 

 Kansas, eastern Texas, etc. It is recently extending its range westward along 

 lines of settlement, and has been successfully introduced into various Western and 

 Pacific States. 



Range in Wasliington. — Locall_\- introduced thruout the State. Well estab- 

 lished in the vicinity of all the larger towns and upon the San Juan Islands. 



Authorities. — |".\merican Ouail (introduced)," Johnson, Rep. Gov. \\'. T. 

 1884 (1885 ) 23] Ratlibun, Auk, \"ol. XIX. Apr. 1902, p. 133. Ra. Kk. J. B. E. 



Specimens. — (U. of W.) C. E. 



BOB-BOB-JVHITE. — mellow and clear across the meadows comes the 

 fine challenge of the American Quail. The last rays of the setting sun gild the 

 top rails of the old worm-fence, which is the chosen trysting place, and the 

 happy gallant sounds his notes again and again, both as a call to his timid 

 mate and as a formal notice to any unsatisfied rival. At close range the notes 

 have usually a triple character, but the first one does not carrv well, and the 

 bird is known to distant hearers as Bob-n'hitc or, better, IVali-quoit, after the 

 Indian rendering. 



Fierce battles sometimes ensue upon these challenges, but once his do- 

 mestic fortunes are settled, there is no more devoted husband and father than 

 the Bob-white. Attachment to home and attachment to companions are both 

 prevailing characteristics ; and it is these which, together with his nimbleness 

 a-wing, make him the ideal upland game bird. Once a flock is scattered, it will 

 assemble again ; and so certain is it to return to the same range, that the last 

 member of it may be slaughtered, if the hunting is pushed to such an unwnse 

 extreme. 



