NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



other reason than this the quail should be held 

 sacred. 



The fact that the dreaded scourge, the cotton ball 

 weevil, has not annihilated the cotton crops of America 

 and brought red ruin to tens of thousands of people, 

 is largely due to the services rendered by the quail 

 in keeping these insects in check. 



The countryside is diligently searched by the parent birds for 

 Caterpillars to satisfy the voracious appetites of their 

 children. This sketch shows the mother bird in the act 

 of placing a Caterpillar in its youngster's throat. 



Here we have a bird which renders man four 

 great services : — 



i. It safeguards the vast cotton plantations of 

 the world. 



2. It polices the potato crops on which the 

 human race largely depends for food. 



3. It wages war on the hordes of insects that 

 attack the crops and pasturage. 



4. It helps very largely in keeping noxious weeds 

 in check. 



Unlike many other birds, it takes no wages in 

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