BOB-WHITE. 27 



open, it is sometimes partially covered by art and accident ; 

 but no studious concealment is ever practised by this artless 

 bird. The eggs are from 15 to 20; and unlike the spotted 

 charge of the true Quail, are white, and rather suddenly nar- 

 rowed at the smaller end. The period of incubation is about 

 four weeks. They have generally two broods in a season, as 

 young birds scarcely fledged may be observed here as late as 

 the beginning of October. When this happens, it is not 

 uncommon to find both coveys still associating with their par- 

 ents. Like most other Gallinaceous birds, the young run about 

 as soon as they are freed from the shell, and gain the complete 

 use of their wings in about a fortnight from hatching. They 

 are now attentively conducted by the mother, and occasionally 

 by either parent, in quest of their appropriate food, and called 

 together in a voice resembling the low twittering of chickens. 

 At times they shelter beneath the wings of the mother ; but if 

 the little busy flock are startled by danger, artifice rather than 

 courage is the instinctive means of safety employed by all 

 the party. The parents flutter in the path in real as well as 

 simulated distress ; and the young, instantly aware of their criti- 

 cal situation, make no useless attempts to fly, but vanish singly, 

 and closely hiding among the withered grass, which they almost 

 resemble in color, are thus fortunately rendered nearly alto- 

 gether invisible. The alarm at length dissipated, the tender, 

 cautious call of the parents again reassembles the little grateful 

 family. 



The eggs of the Quail have been often hatched by the 

 domestic hen ; but the vagrant disposition of the diminutive 

 brood, the difficulty of procuring their proper food, and the 

 superior attention they require over chickens, prevent the possi- 

 bility of their domestication ; and even when they have survived 

 the winter in this state, the return of spring leads them to 

 wander off in compliance with that powerful instinct which 

 inspires them to a mutual separation. 



So familiar are these little birds that occasionally, as de- 

 scribed by Wilson, they have been known to lay their eggs in 

 the nest of the domestic hen, when situated at any considerable 



