THE " QUAIL " 57 



THE "QUAIL." BOB WHITE. 

 PAETEIDGE. 



(Colinus virginianus.) 



Because of the wide extent of country over 

 which he dwells, and because of his large ac- 

 quaintance among the shooting fraternity the 

 "Quail" may make a strong claim for the 

 honor of being the prime game bird of America 

 the bird known and with good reason appre- 

 ciated by the largest number of our sportsmen. 

 There are many good reasons for this popular- 

 ity, chief of which are his thoroughly game 

 habits, close lying before the dog, beautifully 

 direct flight, and the comparatively open na- 

 ture of the country in which he is usually found. 

 All these combine to make quail-shooting mag- 

 nificent sport. 



"Bob White," as he gives us his name in his 

 merrier moods, is found on the continent of 

 North America from the Atlantic ocean to the 

 Eocky mountains, from Canada to the Gulf, 

 has crossed the border into the northern states 

 of the Mexican Eepublic, and is a citizen of the 

 island of Cuba. The bird has also been intro- 



