AMERICAN OR\ITIIOLOGY 



II 



the female proceeds to raise a sec- 

 ond brood. Unless the birds were 

 wise in the choice of a nesting site, 

 the second brood is likely to come to 

 grief, as it is now mowing time and 

 the ruthless kniv^es of the mowing 

 machines spare nothing in their 

 path. Large numbers of nests are 

 destroyed in this way. Both broods 

 remain together in one flocl< until 

 the spring. At night they seek an 

 open place on the ground and, form- 

 ing a circle, with their heads out- 

 ward, go to sleep. If disturbed, 

 they fly as headed, in all directions. 

 Their note when feeding in stub- 

 ble is a single whistle with a rising 

 inflection on the end; this is gen- 

 erally repeated three times. Their 

 call for re-assembling, after being 

 disturbed, consists of a soft whistle 

 which sounds like "cur-ee, cur-ee." 

 Their flight, which, always starts 

 with a loud whirring sound, is quite 



rapid, but always in a straight line 

 or a gentle curve. They do not 

 rise until almost stepped upon, and 

 then fly directly away from you, not 

 separating much. Any hunter who 

 is a fair shot and has a good dog, can 

 secure nearly the whole flock by 

 following them up. How can any 

 one call it sport or the man a 

 sportsman, who thus willfully in a 

 single hour, wipes out of existence 

 a whole family of innocent and 

 beautiful birds. 



During the past two or three 

 years thousands of western quail 

 have been liberated in New Eng- 

 land in the hope of replenishing the 

 covers, which are almost exhaust- 

 ed, but although they thrive well 

 in this climate, 1 doubt much if 

 they will be able to stand the pace 

 the gunners, coupled with their 

 other natural enemies are forcing 

 them to. 



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