THE COLINS OR BOB-WHITES, (4 
gardens, especially during the late fall, winter, and early 
spring. As soon as the young are hatched, they become more 
shy and retiring. The young leave the nest as soon as 
hatched, and have been seen running about with pieces of 
the shell sticking to them. They are faithfully cared for by 
both parents, who make use of all sorts of artifices, such as 
feigning lameness and fluttering along just out of reach of the 
intruder, to lure him away from the young brood ; the young 
scattering in the meantime, and hiding in the grass and under 
leaves at the danger-signal of the parents, and remaining quiet 
until called together again by either of them as soon as all 
danger is passed. When they are about two or three weeks 
old, the male takes charge of the first brood, while the female 
begins to lay her second clutch of eggs. This is usually a 
smaller one than the first, averaging only about twelve eggs. 
The young are at first exclusively fed on insect food, and later 
on small seeds, grains, and berries. . . . The males com- 
mence singing about the rst of May; their song is the well- 
known ‘ Bob-White,’ or ‘Ah, Bob-White.’ One of their love- 
notes may be translated as ‘ Pease most ripe,’ another call as 
‘No more wet,’ or * More wet.’ A shrill ‘Wee-teeh’ is used as 
a note of warning, and one to assemble when the covey has 
dispersed, resembles ‘Quoi-hee, quoi-hee.’ A subdued clucking 
when undisturbed, and a rapidly-repeated twitter when sud- 
denly surprised, are frequently used as well.” (Lendzre.) 
Nest.—A cavity scratched in the ground and sheltered by 
overhanging weeds, grass, or brush, &c. ‘‘ Occasionally the 
nest is arched over, but in most cases, where there is no 
natural cover existing, no dome is attempted.” (Bendire.) 
Eggs.—This bird is the most prolific of North American 
Game-Birds, the number of eggs varying from twelve to 
eighteen. ‘‘ As many as thirty-seven eggs have been found in 
one nest, unquestionably the product of two, or even three, 
hens. In such large sets the eggs are always placed in layers 
