BOB WHITE. 31 
webs. Wings, rufous or grayish, blotched with black like the back, 
with buff edges on scapulars and inner secondaries forming a 
continuous rather broad line down either side of the back. Pri- 
maries, dark brown. ‘Throat, white, a narrow black line under 
the eye. Ear-coverts, chestnut, sometimes black ; a black ring 
surrounds the white of the throat, commencing at ear-coverts. 
Breast and under parts, white or buffy white, crossed with 
irregular narrow black lines. Flank feathers, rich chestnut, with 
white edges barred with black. Some specimens have a band of 
chestnut across the breast beneath the black ring, Vent, white. 
Under tail-coverts, varying from pale to deep chestnut, with 
white on webs near their tips and a V-shaped black mark, but 
this last is sometimes absent. Tail, bluish-gray, sometimes ver- 
miculated with black or brown near tips. Bill black. Legs and 
feet yellowish brown. Total length about 93 inches; wing, 4¢ ; 
tail, 2%; tarsus, 14; bill, #. 
There is much individual variation in the markings of Quail, 
although they may have a close general resemblance to each 
other, and birds from different sections of the United States, not 
inhabited by subspecies, present numerous differences both in 
color and style of markings. But this is only what may be 
expected when a species is scattered over so large a portion of the 
continent as is this one, and subjected to such a variety of climate 
as is experienced within the boundaries of its distribution. The 
above description will, however, answer for the average style of 
‘« Bob White ” generally met with. 
Adult Female.—There is not any especial difference in the 
plumage of the sexes, but the female can always be recognized 
by the buff stripe over the eye, and the buff throat. In other 
respects she closely resembles the male, and has about the same 
dimensions as are given above for him. 
Downy Voung.—Head, buff, with a chestnut line on forehead 
broadening to a patch on occiput. A black line behind the eye, 
and a spot of the same color at the corner of the mouth. Upper 
parts, chestnut ; lower parts, grayish buff, brownish on sides, 
