THE COLINS OR BOB-WHITES. 1 37 



gardens, especially during the late fall, winter, and early 

 spring. As soon as the young are hatched, they become more 

 shy and retiring. The young leave the nest as soon as 

 hatched, and have been seen running about with pieces of 

 the shell sticking to them. They are faithfully cared for by 

 both parents, who make use of all sorts of artifices, such as 

 feigning lameness and fluttering along just out of reach of the 

 intruder, to lure him away from the young brood ; the young 

 scattering in the meantime, and hiding in the grass and under 

 leaves at the danger-signal of the parents, and remaining quiet 

 until called together again by either of them as soon as all 

 danger is passed. When they are about two or three weeks 

 old, the male takes charge of the first brood, while the female 

 begins to lay her second clutch of eggs. This is usually a 

 smaller one than the first, averaging only about twelve eggs. 

 The young are at first exclusively fed on insect food, and later 

 on small seeds, grains, and berries. . . . The males com- 

 mence singing about the ist of May; their song is the well- 

 known * Bob-White,' or *Ah, Bob-White.' One of their love- 

 notes may be translated as * Pease most ripe,' another call as 

 ' No more wet,' or * More wet.' A shrill ' Wee-teeh ' is used as 

 a note of warning, and one to assemble when the covey has 

 dispersed, resembles 'Quoi-hee, quoi-hee.' A subdued clucking 

 when undisturbed, and a rapidly-repeated twitter when sud- 

 denly surprised, are frequently used as well." {Bendire.) 



Nest. — A cavity scratched in the ground and sheltered by 

 overhanging weeds, grass, or brush, &c. " Occasionally the 

 nest is arched over, but in most cases, where there is no 

 natural cover existing, no dome is attempted." (Bendire.) 



Eggs. — This bird is the most prolific of North American 

 Game-Birds, the number of eggs varying from twelve to 

 eighteen. " As many as thirty-seven eggs have been found in 

 one nest, unquestionably the product of two, or even three, 

 hens. In such large sets the eggs are always placed in layers 



