The Quail 19 



day shelter, in which case the bevy may fly to and 

 fro, instead of going afoot. When walking to 

 their feeding-ground quail almost invariably stick 

 close to whatever cover there may be, following 

 a weed-bordered fence, a line of thicket, or some 

 convenient furrow. This habit doubtless is a pre- 

 caution against sudden attacks by hawks. Until 

 the young birds are about two-thirds grown, the 

 plumage is pale and washy-looking, presenting a 

 mottled effect very unlike the richer coloration 

 of the adults. The young are then termed by 

 sportsmen " cheepers," or " squeakers," owing to 

 the fact that when flushed they utter a hurried 

 chirrup. At this stage they, of course, are unfit 

 for shooting and only an out and out " potter " 

 would draw trigger on them. Even after mid- 

 October these immature broods are constantly 

 met with, and frequently they are a nuisance in 

 thick cover, where it is impossible to distinguish 

 them from prime specimens. Dogs will stanchly 

 point them, and about all a sportsman can do 

 when he finds himself knocking down such unde- 

 sirable wretches, is to call off his canine and try 

 a new beat. As a rule these " squeakers " are a 

 second brood, and the older lot may be somewhere 

 close by. This point is well worth remembering. 

 When once beyond the squeaker stage and wear- 

 ing the garb of their parents, the young, while 

 perhaps rather small, are fit quarry for any man. 



