QUAILS. 207 



a slight excavation, lined with grass. The hen lays in 

 this every day a yellowish-white egg, marked with brown 

 spots, until the usual number, which varies from ten 

 to twenty, is deposited. She sits on these for three 

 weeks, seldom leaving them, even to go in search of 

 food, and while she is absent her place is taken by the 

 male. Both parents look after the chicks when they ap- 

 pear, and carefully guard them against foes. When they 

 become suspicious of any object, they utter a clucking 

 sound, which causes the little creatures to seek shelter 

 immediately. The male resorts to various stratagems to 

 lead the foe away from them, but the mother usually 

 conceals herself until the danger is passed, and then calls 

 them to her side with endearing clucks. Although the 

 young can fly well when two months old, they, like most 

 gallinaceous birds, prefer to use their feet until they are 

 hard pressed, and then they take to the wing, though re- 

 luctantly. They moult twice a year, but they never lose 

 feathers enough to prevent them from flying quite rapid- 

 ly. When they are in full plumage, and their crests are 

 waving, they present a handsome appearance, especially 

 when walking, as their carriage is firm, erect, and grace- 

 ful. 



The blue colin {Callipepla Squamata), which is also 

 known as the scaly partridge, sand partridge, and sand 

 quail, is more southern in its range than any of the 

 PercUcidm found in the United States, being a resident 

 of Texas, Arizona, and New Me::^ico. It has a short, full 

 crest; is grayish-blue above, and paler below; the sides 

 are striped with white, and the whole plumage is marked 

 with semicircular black edgings of the feathers, which 

 give it a scaled appearance. The inner edges of the in- 

 ner quills and the end of the crest are white, and the 

 under tail coverts reddish-brown, with dark streaks. 

 This quail, like all the western and south-western 

 species, prefers to trust for safety to its powers of 



