BOBWHITE (Colinus virginianus vir- 

 ginianus) . Better known perhaps as "Quail " 

 or, in the south, as "Virginia Partridge," 

 these are favorite game birds throughout the 

 region they inhabit, which includes from 

 Maine, Ontario, and North Dakota south to 

 the Gulf States. In the northern portions 

 of their range, particularly in New England, 

 they have become very scarce through ex- 

 cessive hunting and unfavorable weather 

 during nesting seasons. Although but 10 

 in. in length, they have short plump bodies 

 that are much larger than those of most 

 other birds of their dimensions. As shown, 

 the plumage of the sexes is very similar 

 except that the male has a pure white throat 

 and line above the eye, while on the female 

 these regions are buffy. 



During fall and winter, flocks of six to 

 twenty individuals may be found in brush- 

 covered or stubble land. They squat mo- 

 tionless upon the approach of anyone and re- 

 main so until almost trod upon, when they 

 rise with a sudden rush and whir and scatter 

 in all directions. As their line of flight is 

 direct and in open ground, they are very easy 

 to shoot. Besides, the sportsman has his 

 dogs to point to their places of concealment, 

 so he does not even have the startling effect 

 produced by an unexpected rising to con- 

 tend with. Only their great productivity 

 can withstand the pace the gunners set them, 

 and even that does not avail in many sections. 



Early in spring the males select their mate or mates — for they are inclined 

 to be polygamous — after short but exciting battles with others and spread out 

 over the country, each pair selecting a suitable spot in tall grass bordering 

 fields, along walls or fences, in which the ten to sixteen pure white eggs will 

 be laid. 



During spring and summer the males repeatedly call to one another with 

 their clearly whistled bob-white or bob, bob-white. In fall and winter they have 

 a shorter call to gather scattered flocks, consisting of a repeated, soft quoit, 

 quoit, etc. 



FLORIDA BOBWHITE is a local race found in that state, very much 

 darker colored than the ordinary birds. 



46 



BOBWHITE 

 FLORIDA BOBWHITE 

 MASKED BOBWHITE 



