THE MOUNTAIN QUAIL. 



565 



suitable localities. But what a change a few years of persecution have wrought ! 

 Where formerly a dozen large co\eys could be found within a small area, 

 only an occasional solitary bird, rarely a pair, is now left of this gem among 

 our upland birds. The entire l)lame cannot be laid at the door of the sports- 

 man, altho modern rai)id-fire guns have played their part. By far the worst 

 havoc has been wrought by the treacherous nets, snares, and traps of all de- 



MOUNTAIN QU.ML. 



scriptions, which unscru])ulous persons set in defiance of law. Too lazy to 

 hunt, these human vermin catch the poor birds alive and wring their necks. 



Before close association with mankind had ])r()\ed so fatal a mistake, 

 these partridges were among the tamest and most confiding of birrls. Utterly 

 unsuspicious of danger, they would run into the yarrl and eat with the farmer's 

 hens, paying little attention to any passing human being. When flushed from 

 their haunts in the woods, the whole covev would merelv flv into the nearest 

 bushes and trees. Now all is changed, for the "fittest" sur\'ivors ha^"e in- 

 herited the knowledge that mankind is tlieir deadliest enemy. 



These "Big Blue Quail," as they are often termed, are the largest of all 

 the partridges of North America, and the sudden whirring of wings when they 

 leave cover may easily be mistaken for that of the Ruffed Gmuse. If the bird 



