156 NOTES ON THE 



observations of this species. The nest varies considerably in 

 the amount, as well as the kind of material of which it is com- 

 posed. In the vicinity of meadows where grass is abundant' 

 it is constructed entirely of that material, necessitating con- 

 siderable bulk, but is nevertheless very perfectly concealed in 

 a thick tuft with the entrance at one side, somewhat after the 

 manner of the Oven Bird. When in the forest, the preference 

 is given to a little hollow under an old decayed log, where the 

 nest is constructed of leaves principally, or entirely. 



In these cases, it has no covering, but when the eggs are 

 in process of being laid, the female covers them com- 

 pletely with leaves to conceal them in her absence. If those 

 ingeniously distributed leaves are disturbed by man or 

 animal before she returns, she will instantly dis- 

 cover the intrusion, and abandon her nest even though 

 no eggs have been broken or removed. Whether from 

 a perception of smell or the difference in the placing of 

 the leaves by the intruder I was never able to tell until upon 

 finding one a few years since, I removed each leaf carefully 

 with a pocket forceps, and after making all desired observa- 

 tions of the eggs, I replaced the leaves one by one as nearly 

 as I found them as possible, and repeated the process every 

 day or two, until the clutch was completed, without arous- 

 ing the maternal suspicions in the least. This result satisfied 

 me that she could smell an intrusion made without the use of 

 the forceps. Winds might disarrange the leaves during her 

 absence as much as I would, but leave no scent upon them or 

 upon the eggs. The usual number is from 14 to 16, or even 

 18, but upon removing the seventh each time after it was 

 deposited, in one instance, a gentleman of extensive observa- 

 tion, who has contributed much valuable information upon the 

 habits of different birds, succeeded in obtaining 32 succes- 

 sively before the little dispenser had suspected her mathema- 

 tics. Their appearance is too familiar to require mention. 

 Although with its order a seed eater, that is not all. 



The quail is another of the many maligned species of birds 

 that is entitled to the protection of the State as a friend to 

 agriculture. Although they may appropriate occasionally 

 some of the late planted berries of grain in spring they pay 

 soundly for it in the destruction of insects that are injurious 

 to grain, fruit and vegetables later. Nearly the entire food of 

 the breeding birds consists of larva and insects, and that of the 

 numerous brood exclusively so, for the other sources of sup- 



