472 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Late in April or early in ]\Iay they construct their nests, always on the 

 ground, usually under the protection of some cluster of bushes, in a depres- 

 sion. It is often on the slope of a small eminence. It is very simple, the 

 materials loosely put together, and wholly of coarse stubble or straw. All 

 that I have seen have been arched over at the top, and with a partially 

 covered entrance ; but 1 am told that it is as often open as covered. The 

 eggs are spoken of in the books as from fifteen to twenty. I have never 

 found less than twenty-four, and from that number to thirty-two. I think 

 that each female lays but about eight, and that several females make use of 

 the same nest, — never less than two, nor more than four. But this opinion is 

 conjectural rather than ascertained. They have two broods in a season, the 

 second in August, at Avhich time the male is engaged in leading the first 

 brood, of which he takes charge when they are hardly half grown. He is a 

 courageous, watchful, and devoted guardian. Once as I was rapidly descend- 

 ing a path on the side of a hill, among a low growth of scrub-oak I came 

 suddenly npon a covey of young Quail, feeding on blueberries, and directly 

 in the path. They did not see me until I was close upon them, when the 

 old bird, a fine old male, flew directly towards me and tumbled at my feet as 

 if in a dying condition, giving at the same time a shrill whistle, expressive of 

 intense alarm. I stooped and put my hand upon his extended wings, and could 

 easily have caught him. The young birds, at the cry of the parent, flew in all 

 directions ; and their devoted father soon followed them, and began calling to 

 them in a low cluck, like the cry of the Brown Thresher. The young at 

 this time were hardly more than a week old, and seemed to fly perfectly 

 well to a short distance. Tlie female was nowhere to be seen, but may 

 have been previously killed, or may have been already in her second incuba- 

 tion at that early stage. The youug run as soon as they are hatched, and 

 from tlie first aid their flight with their wings ; when pursued, I have never 

 known them to squat in the manner of the Euffed Grouse, but rather to 

 hide themselves in thick bushes or tufts of grass, running from these if dis- 

 covered. 



The male bird has a loud, clear, and very distinctive whistle, which in 

 New England is interpreted as No more wet, or, if his utterance is more 

 hurried and excited, as More wet ; and there are those who still attach to 

 these utterances a meteorological significance. In other parts of the country 

 this cry is supposed to be Ah Bol-ivliitc, or Bob-white, and the birds are not 

 unfrequently called Bob-Whites, a name suggested by Professor Baird as a 

 good specific designation. Their note when calling their young brood is very 

 different, and is a low twitter, suggestive of affection, caution, and gentle care. 

 It is soft and subdued, and would readily escape notice. 



They make a loud whirring sound when they take to flight, but they 

 rarely fly to any distance, even when most alarmed, as their flight is some- 

 what laborious. They often escape by running on the ground, especially 

 when they are not suddenly startled. 



