THE BOB-WHITE. 437 



The cocks ruffle all their feathers, throw forward the erectile feather-tufts 

 of the neck, inflate the distensible air-sacs until they look like ripe oranges; 

 then rush forward across the ball-room floor with lowered heads and scraping 

 wings while the air escapes in that tender penetrating sob which reverberates 

 a mile away. As the show proceeds tiie ladies get interested, yield somewhat of 

 their frigid manner, and move about coyly among the strutting gallants. At 

 the first few dances only pleasant mutual acquaintance is promoted, but on 

 subsequent occasions, as attentions become more serious, conflicting interests 

 are sure to be developed among rival cocks, and fierce and bloody battles ensue. 

 To the victor belongs the choice of maidens, and that too on a generous scale. 

 Of course, under such circumstances conjugal fidelity is a thing unknown, and 

 it becomes a marvel that the females will pay daily visits to the scene of these 

 disgraceful scrimmages. 



The female hides her nest in some grass tussock of the open prairie, or in 

 a deep, feather-lined depression at the edge of a swale, and sits closely upon 

 ten or a dozen eggs. When thoroughly frightened from her nest she is not 

 likely to return, or if she does, and finds the eggs handled, she will break them 

 up in disgust. Incubation is completed in from three to four weeks, and the 

 little brood is promptly led off to forage or hide at the behest of the wary and 

 devoted mother. 



The flock follows its mother until nearly full grown. As fall comes on 

 several family troops are merged, and the company thus formed is joined by 

 the hitherto exiled males. Under the contingency of persecution by gunners 

 the flock scatters to right and left, each member rising in turn and making off 

 rapidly with a vocal rattle which adds to the excitement of whirring wings. 

 The bird is capable of sustained flights of several miles, much of which is 

 accomplished by stiff downward sails of long duration. In the prairie states 

 west of the Mississippi the females and young-of-the-year retire several degrees 

 south in winter, but the hardier males usually endure the rigors of the season 

 in the North. 



No. 196. 



BOB-WHITE. 



A. O. U. No. 289. Colinus virginianus (Linn.). 



Synonym. QUAIL. 



Description. Adult male : Above general color vinaceous-rufous, chang- 

 ing to cinnamon-rufous on wings and on sides, clearest on upper back and sides 

 of breast, heavily black-spotted or barred on lower back, scapulars, and inner 

 quills, heavily margined with buff on inner edges of inner scapulars and 

 quills, changing to black on forehead, everywhere mottled finely with black, white, 

 or whitish, and bluish gray; tertials in closed wing completely covering the fus- 

 cous primaries and secondaries ; a broad, white superciliary stripe, almost meet- 



