TEXAN BOB WHITE. 



C XCEPTING the Staked-Plains in the northwest part 

 ^ of the State, this bird is a resident of the greater por- 

 tion of Texas, and grades in the east into the true Bob 

 White of the Atlantic States. It has a general resem- 

 blance to the Northern bird, but is lighter in color, and 

 the male has usually a pale cinnamon chestband beneath 

 the black collar. In habits it does not differ from Bob 

 White, and the notes and calls it utters are the same as 

 those of the common Quail. In most parts of the State 

 they are tame and unsuspicious, hardly taking the trouble 

 to get out of the way of approaching danger. The males 

 are pugnacious, though, and frequent battles occur be- 

 tween rivals for the affection of some shy female, who 

 all the time regards the combatants with seeming indif- 

 ference, as if not caring especially which one came ofiF 

 victorious. 



The Texan Bob White is a bird of the lowlands, 

 not going above 2000 feet, and is very common in 

 the Rio Grande Valley, where it visits the ranches and 

 feeds about the buildings. On the open prairies, where 

 it is very numerous, it feeds on the seeds of the various 

 grasses, grain, berries, and different species of insects 

 from grasshoppers to ants, and, if alarmed, seeks to 

 hide in mesquito bushes and dense thickets. Two, some- 

 times three broods are raised in the season. The nest, 

 a slight cavity made in some thick grass and lined with 

 straws and arched over with the same, contains usually 

 from twelve to fifteen eggs, in shape and color no way 



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