BOB WHITE. 25 



notes are heard no more, as they wander away to safer 

 feeding grounds or place of concealment and repose. 



Where the birds are much hunted they become " edu- 

 cated," and whenever flushed fly at once to the densest 

 thicket in the vicinity, impenetrable perhaps to both man 

 and dog, and are safe. With such coveys one shot, as 

 they rise before the dog, is all that can be expected. 

 They exhibit their cunning in various ways. Some 

 bevies, if feeding well out in the field, will begin to run 

 toward cover as soon as a man or dog climbs over the 

 fence, and frequently reach a place of safety before the 

 dog has caught the scent and apprised his owner of 

 their presence. Or, they will feed near to the fence, 

 rarely going far from it, and slip into cover at the first 

 alarm. Little can be done with Quail so well *' edu- 

 cated " as these. 



There is no member of the gallinaceous birds more 

 " game " than the brave little '' Bob White," and 

 none affords more diversion to the sportsman. The 

 autumn morning breaks clear and still, and the air is 

 crisp with the frosty breath of advancing winter as the 

 sportsman, accompanied by his well-trained dogs, starts 

 out for a battle with the Quail, to be waged with skill 

 and cunning on both sides, but with unequal results, 

 for against the pleasures of the chase, an ardent love of 

 which is inherent in man, we must place wounds and 

 death for the gallant birds. The dogs know as well as 

 their master what is to be the business of the day, and 

 as they express their delight with many a gambol and 

 queer contortion, are observant of every field, and fre- 

 quently toss up their heads and sniff the pure air as 

 though the well-known scent of wandering birds was 

 borne to their quivering nostrils. Soon the desired 

 place is reached and, with a wave of the hand, the dogs 



