220 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



ETirrlish nomenclature by giving him a scientific title directly 

 analogous to Quail, and not to Partridge. 



I should as soon think myself of calling the bird a Turkey as 

 a Partridge, and I shall ever hold that the question is entirely 

 set at rest, and that the true name of this dear little bird in the 

 vernacular is American Quail ; and his country has better rea- 

 son to be proud of him, than she has of many of her sons who 

 make much more noise in the world than our favorite Bob- 

 White. 



While on this subject, I may obsei-ve — for the benefit of our 

 northern sportsmen, many of whom I have heard positively 

 assert that the Quail is not migratory — that every where west 

 of the Delaware he is as- distinctly a bird of migration as the 

 Woodcock, and the farther west the more palpably so. Why 

 he loses these habits with us of the Middle States T cannot 

 guess, nor has any naturalist so much as alluded to the fact, 

 which is nevertheless indisputable. 



It will be seen at once, from the foregoing description, that 

 our American Quail is a most beautiful little bird; but his 

 beauties do not consist merely in his plumage, but in his gait, 

 his pretty pert movements, his gi-eat vivacity, his joyous atti- 

 tudes, his constant and cheerful activity. 



He is in all respects the most social, the merriest, and most 

 amiable of his tribe. During the breeding season, he alone, of 

 the gallinaceous tribe, makes wood and mead resound with 

 his shrill, merry whistle, whence our country folk have framed 

 to him a name Boh - White, from some fancied similarity of 

 sound, cheering his faithful partner during the toils of incu- 

 bation. 



Afterward, when the bevies are collected, as he runs from 

 the huddle in which he has passed the night, he salutes his 

 brethren, perhaps thanks his Creator, for the pleasant dawn, 

 with the most cheerfid noise that can be fancied, a short, quick, 

 happy cheeping, " and seems to be," to boiTow the words of 

 the inimitable Audubon, I quote from memory alone, "the 

 happiest little creature in the universe." 



