The Ways of Bob-White 251 



with a desire to tear him in pieces, hut the father was ever on guard, and the fights 

 between the two birds were often long and tierce. At the very tirst sound of the 

 battle-cry, the chick would disappear and remain lost until the fight was well 

 over. 



On September 10, plaintive little sounds were heard, very much like the faint 

 "peep" of voung turkevs — and at once it seemed as though the ground itself 

 was moving along, it was so impossible to distinguish the tiny Quail from the 

 dead oak leaves. There were over twenty of the little brown things, and with 

 them were two cocks and two hens! Just how the forced friendship had come 

 about, we will never know, of course, but it was apparent at once that the two 

 large families had become hopelessly mixed, although the Quail were just from 

 the nest. The chick was there too, suddenlv developed into a small cock, very 

 independent, and scratched cnergeticallv for the babies, who commenced to eat 

 wheat at once. Since that time they have grown amazingly, and as soon as they 

 could fly, the}' came to the wheat on the window, and eight have been seen there 

 at one time, each one singing his sweet little song of ''wheat, wheat ah I" 



The two families soon separated, but the wicked cock and his hen have only 

 three of the chickens. They seldom come here now. The other cock is a grand 

 bird, quite capable of managing his large covey. On one occasion three of the 

 chicks loitered behind, and were slow in coming to the grain, and the ever-watchful 

 father seeing this, ran arcnmd back of them, gave one a sharp peck that started 

 him oft", and the other two with him. The cock followed them slowly, and w'ith 

 great dignit\-. While the chicks are scratching and feeding — never longer than 

 two minutes — he almost always sits on top of the fence at the corner of the house 

 where he softly whistles his two notes — " all's well ! " One dav, however, he changed 

 oft" to dift"erent notes, also very low, but which every little bird heard, and recog- 

 nized as a warning, for instantly every one of them disappeared from sight — all 

 but the two chicks that happened to be on the window, but they, too, squatted 

 right there, and drew their little heads in. I have always thought that it w-as 

 a bit of discipline on the cock's part — a kind of a " fire drill. " He is a handsome 

 bird, his back a bright cinnamon, and his crest jet-black. Several times w'hen he 

 has been on the sill, I have put my finger within two inches of his sharp little 

 eyes. He must have seen it, of course, but both birds and squirrels seem to think 

 that inside the glass and screen is another world that does not concern them. 



This opportunity to study Quail almost daily, in their natural wild life; to 

 watch their wonderful affection for each other; to learn their many calls, every 

 one of which has a meaning, is as unusual as it is delightful. 



