 ———— 
THE COLINS OR BOB-WHITES. I4t 
Range.—Island of Cuba; Isle of Pines. It is also reported 
from Porto Rico.* 
Habits.— Dr. Jean Gundlach, who is intimately acquainted 
with the habits of this species, says that the ‘‘ Codorniz” is only 
met with towards the outskirts of the forest, and inhabits the 
extensive prairies in the most westerly part of the Island of 
Cuba. The flight of the bird is neither high nor protracted, 
but straight and swift ; it rises with rapid beats of the wing, 
which become less laboured when the bird is well on the wing, 
or are sometimes entirely suspended, the wings being merely 
widely extended. When the flight is caused by approaching 
danger, the different birds of the flock or covey separate from 
each other, and settle some way off in different places, some- 
times running for a little distance. When the danger has dis- 
appeared, all reassemble at the call of the leader of the flock. 
If the panic has been caused by dogs, the birds fly on to the 
nearest tree, where they crouch on a horizontal branch, and 
remain motionless as long as the dog stays under the tree or 
barks. ‘They may then, if approached with caution, be caught 
by means of a loop made of horse-hair or strong thread fastened 
to a long slender pole. If the flock takes flight without being 
scared by any danger, the different members all fly together. 
They search for their food on the ground, picking up various 
kinds of seeds, and sometimes berries or young leaves. Should 
they anticipate any danger whilst thus employed, a murmuring 
sound is heard, and they run with raised crest, outstretched 
necks, and outspread tails to a place of safety. Their call-notes 
vary somewhat, according to circumstances. In the mating- 
season, when the members of a flock are already paired or 
scattered about, the cock perches on a branch, stump of a tree, 
post, stone, or a large clod of earth, and summons his mate 
with two or three notes, the third being quickly or loudly 
uttered, and the hen answers. ‘Thecocks often fight with each 
* It is possible that the following notes by Dr. J. Gundlach may refer to 
the Florida Colin, which has apparently been introduced into Cuba, 
