136 Allen's naturalist's library. 



the under-parts nearly obsolete, especially on the middle of 

 the breast and belly. 



Eange. — Eastern United States of North America, extending 

 north to Massachusetts and Minnesota, west to Dakota and 

 Indian Territory, and south to Georgia and other Gulf States. 

 Introduced into many of the West Indian Islands and various 

 parts of the Old World. 



Habits. — "This species, one of the most widely distributed 

 of our Game-Birds, is better known throughout the Northern 

 and Middle States as the Quail, and under the name of 

 Partridge, or Virginia Partridge, in the South. . . . 



" At the present time the Bob-Whites are most abundant in 

 the Central and some of the Southern States. They have also 

 been successfully introduced in various localities in the 

 West. . . . 



" Excepting, perhaps, in its extreme northern range, the 

 Bob-Whites are residents, and breed wherever found. They 

 are partial to more or less open country. Fields and pastures, 

 interspersed with small bodies of woodland, country roads, 

 bordered by brush and briar patches, as well as the edges of 

 meadow and lowlands, are their favourite abiding places. In 

 Southern Louisiana they are very partial to the borders of 

 hammock land and open pine-woods. They are never found 

 in large packs ; each covey generally keeps to itself, and rarely 

 moves far from the place where it was raised. The mating- 

 season commences in April, when the coveys, or such portions 

 of them remaining, begin to break up, each pair selecting a 

 suitable nesting-site. Nidification begins usually about May; 

 in the Southern States somewhat earlier, and in the more 

 northern portions of their breeding-range it is often delayed 

 until June. . . . 



"These birds are very sociable in disposition, and, when 

 not constantly disturbed or shot at, become quite tame, and 

 may frequently be seen about dwelling-houses, barns, and in 



