PERDICID^ — THE PARTRIDGES. 473 



Mr. Audubon states that at the West this bird performs occasional mi- 

 grations towards the southeast in October, in the manner of the Wild Tur- 

 key; but I cannot find that others have noticed this occurrence. In the 

 Southern and Western States, where this species is very plentiful, they are 

 taken in immense numl^ers in large nets, into which they are cautiously and 

 slowly driven by a party of hunters. 



This species, with proper pains, may be easily raised in confinement, in- 

 duced to breed, and trained into a condition of partial domestication. Eev. 

 Dr. Bachman, of Charleston, S. C, succeeded in obtaining, by hatching 

 under a Bantam Hen, a brood of young Quails. Confining them with their 

 foster-mother for a few days, they were soon taught to follow her like young 

 chickens. They were fed at first on curds, but soon began to eat cracked 

 Indian-corn and millet. They were permitted to stray at large in the 

 garden, one wing of each having been shortened. They became very 

 gentle, and were in the habit of following Dr. Bachman through his house, 

 seating themselves on the table at which he was writing, occasionally, in 

 play, pecking at his hands or running off with his pen. At night they 

 nestled in a coop in the garden. Although these pets liad no opportunity 

 of hearing any other sounds than those of the poultry, the male birds com- 

 menced in the spring their not unmusical note of Bob-white, at first low, but 

 increasing in loudness, until they were heard through the whole neighbor- 

 hood. Their notes were precisely like those of the wild birds. As the 

 spring advanced the males became very pugnacious, and continued contests 

 took place among themselves, as well as with the Pigeons and the poultry 

 that intruded on their premises. Their eggs were placed under a Hen and 

 hatched out. The experiment went no further, but w^as quite sufficient to 

 demonstrate the possibility of their domestication. 



Wilson relates that in one instance a female of this species set upon and 

 hatched out the eggs of the common Hen. For several weeks after, his in- 

 formant occasionally surprised her in various parts of the plantation with 

 her brood of chickens, on which occasion she exhibited every indication of 

 distress and alarm, and practised her usual manoeuvres for their preservation. 

 She continued to lead them about until they were larger than herself, and 

 their manners had all the shyness and timidity and alarm of young Quails. 



Mr. Allen states (Am. Nat, July, 1872) that this species has been recently 

 introduced into the Great Salt Lake Valley, and in 1871 was giving promise 

 of multiplying rapidly and becoming thoroughly naturalized, young birds 

 having been raised in the summer of 1871. 



The eggs of this species are of a pure, brilliant white color, sharply pointed 

 at one end, and obtusely rounded at the other. They average about 1.35 

 inches in length by one inch in breadth. 



VOL. in. 



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