ONTARIO 



Eggs, pure white, said to range in numbers from lo to 40, the larger lots 

 supposed to include contributions from several females ; 15 being considered 

 the usual set. 



Bob-white may be claimed as a permanent resident in 

 Southern Ontario, which is the northern Hmit of his range, and 

 he has hard work to hold his own against the many influences 

 which are continually operating against him. Birds of prey, 

 crows, jays, weasels, dogs, cats, mowing machines, and sports- 

 men of all classes tend to thin the ranks ; worse than all these 

 the vicissitudes of winter, spells of cold weather during which 

 the mercury gets down below zero, and occasional long con- 

 tinued deep snow, tell so severely against this little bird that 

 were it not for its wonderful capacity for increase it would soon 

 be exterminated. 



The Quail follows in the wake of cultivation, and under 

 ordinary circumstances thrives best near the abode of nian. It 

 is a good friend to the farmer, and is well entitled to his pro- 

 tection in return for the service it renders, not only in the con- 

 sumption of large quantities of the seeds of noxious weeds, but 

 also in the destruction of many sorts of insects whose ravages 

 among the crops are often very severe and difficult to prevent. 

 A recent writer mentions having examined the crop of one 

 which was killed as it rose from a potato patch, and found 

 it to contain seventy-five potato-bugs. This is onl}^ one of the 

 many instances illustrating the value of this bird to the farmer. 



Were I a farmer, I would hang over my kitchen fire-place 

 the motto, inscribed in goodly characters : " Spare the Quail." 



Many interesting articles have from time to time appeared 

 in sporting magazines concerning the query — has the Quail the 

 power to withhold its scent ? 



No one acquainted with tlie habits of the birds will deny 

 that at times the best of dogs will fail to find them where the}- 

 have been marked down, but how this happens is a subject 

 regarding which sportsmen still hold different opinions. 



From among many instances given in illustration of the fact 

 we select the following by Dr. H. E. Jones, an enthusiastic 



