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A TRUE STORY OF A WAYWARD BOB WHITE. 



Mother Bob White, with due maternal entrance into this world they had gained 



care, had selected a most appropriately the assurance which comes from meeting 



concealed spot for her treasure. The and overcoming difficulties, 



roughly constructed nest was built upon Mother Bob White had been carefully 



high ground, and was artfully hidden at guarding her little brown family, leading 



the base of a tuft of dried grass. That ihe them for^h daily in quest of small bugs 



necessary moisture, which adds vitality and scattered seeds, always upon the look- 



and strength to the young should not be out for possible enemies, never failing to 



lacking, she had deposited her eggs al- flutter away, feigning a crippled wing, 



most upon the bare earth, only a thin, should I chance to come upon her sud- 



but closely woven mat of dried grass in- denly. And on such occasions look as 



tervening between the nine white eggs quickly and intently as I might I seldom 



and the brown earth. The days of in- caught a glimpse of those brown bodies 



cubation were divided between the two that so well obey the parting cry of warn- 



old birds, the cock performing his share ing, uttered by the mother as she fluttered 



of the parent's duties. When the hen just beyond my reach, leading me straight 



was collecting her food he would nestle away from her trembling family. Should 



down upon the eggs with a care equally you wish to find one of the little chicks 



as great as that bestowed by the mother, you may do so by carefully feeling among 



After the chicks were hatched the cock the tufts of grass and other decayed 

 shook himself free of any and all respon- brown vegetation nearest the spot where 

 sibility, and betook himself to the one's eye lost them, 

 meadows to enjoy the more liberal forage. Upon one occasion I discovered sev- 

 This desertion was most satisfactory to eral of this little brood in a most peculiar 

 the. mother, for no doubt she wished to and interesting situation. I had startled 

 have the entire training of the little ones the mother-bird while she was leadingher 

 left strictly to her care. She would not young ones through a wood, the ground 

 lead the chicks forth until sure of his de- thickly covered with dried leaves, and, as 

 parture. What fluffy little brown beau- she fluttered away from almost beneath 

 ties they were as they dodged in and out my feet, I dared not move for fear of 

 among the weeds and grasses, learning crushing one of the chicks. They scat- 

 their first lessons in the roughest school tered and see'med to have disappeared on 

 of life, the school of experience ! They all sides near me. Gazing intently upon 

 had many dangers to guard against, and the mass of brown leaves, I was thinking 

 they learned that much work was re- how I could extricate myself without 

 quired of them before their insatiable lit- harming the hidden brood, when my eye 

 tie appetites were satisfied. They must caught the slight motion of a leaf almost 

 brave attacks from foxes, skunks, weasels against my foot. I stooped and gently 

 and minks upon the ground, and at the raised the leaf. It felt wonderfully heavy, 

 same time keep an alert eye upward for This oddity of weight prepared me for 

 the sudden advent of some hungry hawk the surprise yet in store. When the leaf 

 by day, or the relentless swoop of owls by had been lifted a sufficient distance to en- 

 night. Their nights were spent in anx- able me to look beneath, I caught a 

 iety, and, in fact, then they were most in- glimpse of a tiny brown rascal clinging 

 secure, as owls, and foxes especially, ap- desperately. He was in the drollest of 

 preciate a young quail and exert them- positions, clinging feet uppermost, 

 selves to capture them. Their caution, I soon learned to know about where 

 however, could not interfere with their Mrs. Bob White's brood could be found, 

 obtaining a supply of food and water, so and they were quite grateful for the 

 they braved many dangers every hour of crumbs scattered daily within their reach, 

 their lives, and not many days after their usually along an old and dusty wagon 



