ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS 175 



BOB-WHITE (Colinus virginianus) 



The rapid decrease of this well known game bird near 

 New York City is a matter of common knowledge, but is due 

 as much to the steady advance of civilization as to indis- 

 criminate slaughter. The average suburban nimrod of the 

 present generation is quite incapable of hitting a Quail, as 

 this bird is generally miscalled. The bird-lover, however, 

 misses the clear spring whistle of the male and the covey call 

 in late summer and fall, and realizes regretfully that an attrac- 

 tive feature of the countryside has gone forever. 



The Bob-white has always been seriously reduced in 

 numbers by severe winters, and just at present its numbers 

 seem to be at a particularly low ebb. Chapman and Stone 

 have both pointed out that sportsmen have frequently in- 

 troduced southern stock to prevent total extermination, and 

 it is doubtful if any true unmixed blood remains. 



Long Island. A fairly common resident, especially in the pine 

 barren region; rare or extinct near the city. 



ORIENT. A resident, common or rare according to locality. 

 MASTIC. Common resident; temporarily extirpated in 

 the winter of 1919-1920. 



New York State. Perhaps a few introduced birds still exist 

 on Staten Island. A few birds may still survive in Westchester 

 County. 



CENTRAL PARK. Formerly resident. Extinct since 1893. 

 BRONX REGION. Formerly a common resident. A small 

 covey still survives in the Van Cortlandt Park swamp. Long 

 since extinct elsewhere as a native species. 



New Jersey. Very rare or extinct throughout most of our area; 

 still present along the Delaware River above Dingman's Ferry, and 

 near Vernon, Sussex County (Griscom). 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Extinct near Englewood since 1901; 

 recorded near Closter, May 31, 1915 (W. H. Wiegmann), and 

 at Demarest in March, 1916 (Bowdish) so it may still exist in 

 northern Bergen County. 



