BOB- WHITE 149 



but he is such a dainty, pretty creature that we are 

 ahvays glad to have one come whirring our way, or 

 to see a pair fly up before us in a woodsy road. 



They build in a variety of places — on the ground, 

 in a bush, on a stump, or on the lower branch of a 

 tree. They use a few dry twigs and rootlets which 

 they put together so loosely as to justify the observa- 

 tion of a Maryland Uncle Remus that " dey builds 

 mighty triflin' nesses." Two pure white eggs are laid. 

 Langille says " The young doves are well matured be- 

 fore they leave the nest, and sit side by side upon the 

 ordinarily rude affair. At night the old one sits cross- 

 wise upon them, even when they are quite large, the 

 nest and birds together making a grotesque pile.'' 

 Outside of nesting season these doves gather in flocks 

 and visit grain and corn-fields. 



Bob-white; Quail; Partridge: Coliinis virginianus. 



Length 10 inches. 



General color chestnut-brown, marked with black, gray, 

 and yellowish-brown; throat, and a broad line over the eye 

 white; a black patch on the upper breast. 



Female is buff where male is white. 



Resident (common) all the year. 



How familiar and pleasant is the clear, musical 

 whistle of the Bob-white! When you hear it floating 

 over the fields, let your glass svk^eep all the fence- 

 stakes in the direction of the sound, and on the top 

 of one you will almost surely discover the handsome 

 "game-bird." He is so shy and gentle that we always 

 ardently hope he may escape the merciless dog and 

 gun which we know will soon be after him and his 

 pretty flock. 



Quail know well the value of their protective color- 

 ing, and when surprised they keep to the ground, 



