Bob-white 1 39 



I waited five minutes and heard a call, different this time, 

 over under the mountain side. The mother had reached a 

 place of safety and was marshalling her forces. 



Subfamily Perdicinee 



Bob-white; Quail. — Colinus virginianus. 10.00 



Extremely Rare Permanent Resident 



Field marks. — Whistles its name on two notes, the last the 

 higher, sometimes repeating the last note; throat and 

 broad line over eye, pure white; rest of plumage mottled, 

 barred, and checked with varying shades of brown and 

 buff; bill very short; form well rounded. 



The latter part of June and in midsummer the mellow 

 whistle of Bob-white is occasionally heard in old pastures and 

 along the edges of meadows in this County; but the species 

 is not so numerous as in days of yore and, in the Autumn, 

 covies are very rarely encountered by the hunter. While 

 very wild and difficult to approach after they have gathered 

 into flocks in the Fall, Quail, like the Ruffed Grouse, change 

 their habits completely during the breeding season. Not long 

 ago I found a nest on August 22 containing seventeen 

 eggs. The flushed bird disappeared in some nearby second 

 growth, and after a hasty glance at the glistening white 

 pyriformed eggs I hastened away, not wishing to disturb 

 the home. But actuated by a desire to make further 

 observations I visited the spot two days later. The nest was 

 under a little cluster of blackberry vines and grass about 



