The Family of Bob-White 89 



most that could be said for such a dress was, 

 that it was not conspicuous, and so was not 

 calculated to attract the eyes of any of Bob- 

 White's enemies, such as hawks, owls, or men. 



But Bob- White was whistling for some- 

 thing else beside good spirits this morning. 

 He was whistling for a wife. 



Presently from down across the fields as 

 though in answer to his calling came a clear, 

 '' white, white, white," or if you had been in 

 a more romantic frame of mind you might 

 have thought that the clear low whistling said, 

 " here, here, here." 



Bob-White heard it, and was pleased with 

 the effect of his own musical voice, so he re- 

 doubled his calls of " bob-white, bob-white," 

 and listened at regular intervals for the mu- 

 sical "white, white, white," that came in return. 



When this calling and answering had gone 

 on for some time Bob- White flew away to in- 

 vestigate, and his wings made such a whirring 

 and struck so fast that this fact alone pro- 

 claimed him a member of the partridge fam- 

 ily. He is the smallest of all the partridges, 



