THE QUAILS OF CALIFORNIA. l6l 



would stop, form little bunches for a few seconds, 

 and then move on again. Everywhere went 

 single birds, bobbing their heads, dodging and 

 zigzagging about, stopping occasionally to take a 

 look at us, then running on again. Here and 

 there one hopped upon a stone and sent forth a 

 ringing WJiit — whit — whit ; while others, gather- 

 ing in little squads, kept up a low, muffled Wook — 

 wook — wook — wook — wook — ook-wookook — zvook 

 — ook. But all the time the general movement of 

 the flock up the hill was just a trifle faster than 

 that of Mr. Jones on the level ground. By the 

 time he had reached the foot of the hill where he 

 first saw them, the birds were about half-way up, 

 and the hill was some four hundred feet hiHi. 

 There they were, scudding about or trailing in 

 lines, with the Whit — ivhit — wJiit — ivhit and 

 Wook — wook — wook — wook sounding plainly as 

 before. 



Jones started up the hill, with his dog point- 

 ing all the way and moving up as his master 

 went ahead of him ; but, as before, Jones seemed 

 to think he would get nearer by going slowly so 

 as not to frighten the game. He reached the 

 place where the birds had been, about the time 



