4 The Partridge Family 



from where they were released. The first severe 

 weather may have destroyed the remainder ; but if 

 a few drifted southward in an attempt to reach 

 their native land, the final long flight over sea was 

 assuredly a feat far beyond their limited powers. 

 The loss of these birds was no serious matter. 

 Small, fast-running, lacking all the better quali- 

 ties of their American namesakes, the migratory 

 quail would at the best have been a very question- 

 able addition to our list of game birds. Those 

 who tried good dogs on them while the opportu- 

 nity lasted, appeared to think that the famished 

 Israelite of old did not eat quite enough. 



Of the birds popularly known as "quail " in dif- 

 ferent parts of this country, scientists have recog- 

 nized no less than thirteen varieties, some of 

 which they have agreed to term " Bob Whites," 

 while the others are " partridges." With the name 

 Bob White, which was suggested by the well- 

 known and musical call of the male bird, sports- 

 men need not quarrel — "A rose by any other 

 name — " etc. The birds classified as Bob Whites 

 include Colinus virginianus^ the quail of sport- 

 ing lore ; Colinus virginianus Jloridanus, the 

 Florida variety ; C. v. texanus, of Texas and 

 Mexico ; and C. ridgwayi, the masked Bob White 

 of southern Arizona and Mexico. 



The partridges comprise a group in which are 

 Oreortyx pictus, the mountain partridge of Cali- 



