GAME-BIRDS AND PIGEONS. 187 



CHAPTER IX. 



GAME-BIRDS AND PIGEONS. 



BY " Game-birds" is meant those that are popu- 

 larly known as Grouse, Quails, Partridges, Ptar- 

 migan, and the Wild Turkey. Of these so-called 

 gallinaceous birds we have a considerable variety, 

 and but for the greed of sportsmen, want of con- 

 science of pot-shooters, and asininity of legislators, 

 would have scattered over the whole country a vastly 

 greater number of individual birds ; for we hear the 

 cry of late from every quarter, " Game is getting 

 scarce." Nevertheless, everybody chases the last 

 bird to death, saying, " If I didn't, some one else 

 would." 



In the extreme South and Southwest there are a 

 few doves and pigeons peculiar to those regions ; but 

 in the United States generally there are but the Wild 

 Pigeon and Turtle-dove, and the former is pretty 

 nearly blotted out of existence. 



The common Eastern Quail, or Bob- white, is to all 

 a familiar bird. It probably has not a single habit 

 not thoroughly well known. It is a resident bird, 

 except when nesting, gregarious, and if not harassed 

 beyond all endurance would be quite tame and 

 familiar. It appears to know that at certain seasons 

 it is free from molestation, and comes out into the 



