THE AMERICAN QUAIL. 201 



better to that of the nest of the meadow lark 

 than to that of the quail, so far as my obser- 

 vation goes. All the nests I have found have 

 been grassy baskets sunk into a shallow hol- 

 low of the ground and completely open at 

 the top. 



As many as twenty eggs are sometimes found 

 in a nest, though a dozen is more likely to be 

 the quota. Such a nest, its bottom lined with 

 pearly treasures, is a beautiful sight, worthy of 

 the brush of the artist. If the eggs can be 

 found fresh, they are excellent for food — at 

 least, such is the opinion of those who have 

 the conscience to rob the nest of the quail. 



Like the grouse and some other birds, the 

 young quails are ready to leave the nest almost 

 as soon as they are out of the shell, being very 

 active and shy. Indeed, I have heard old har- 

 vesters say that they have seen them scuttling 

 through the wheat stubbles with a part of their 

 shell still clinging to their backs. Sometimes 

 in my rambles I stumble upon a brood of little 

 ones with their mamma. How the old bird 

 calls and rushes about and trails and fluffs her 

 feathers until she lias warned her little ones of 

 their danger ! And how they scud about and 

 creep into the grass and bushes, sitting so close 

 that it is next to impossible to find them ! Only 



15 



