XXIV 



BOB-WHITE; QUAIL; PARTRIDGE 

 289. Colinus virginianus 



The Quail is the best known and most highly es- 

 teemed of the American game birds. It is widely dis- 

 tributed and, like most of the family, does not migrate 

 but prefers to remain near the place of its birth, where 

 it collects in flocks or coveys. It is an intelligent bird and, 

 like the coyote and fox, maintains its place in spite of 

 the advance of civilization. In fact, the Quail prefers 

 man's open fields as summer breeding places, and his 

 hedgerows as its winter resorts, where, on the coldest 

 days, it may be seen huddled in flocks to maintain warmth. 



The Quail is fond of dust baths and there are very 

 few dusty country roads that are not pitted by the body 

 of the dust-bathing Quail. 



The California and Gambel Quails in a measure sup- 

 plant the Bob- White in Texas and other western and 

 southern states. Bob- White proclaims his name from 

 stump or fence post, as he perches there while his mate 

 incubates. The young are hatched fully fledged and 

 leave the ground nest as soon as the shell is broken. 

 The Quail is a prolific layer, often laying as many as 

 eighteen or twenty eggs. (Fig. 35.) 



Of all birds I have tried to picture, I consider this 

 the most difficult. I have tried the tent method, cover- 

 ing the camera and tripod with vines, leaves and grass, 

 and all methods have failed. I have succeeded in pic- 

 turing only the eggs in the nest, just as I found them. 

 In most instances where I have parted the grass to ex- 

 pose the eggs for picturing, the nest has been abandoned. 



A young Quail can hide under a leaf right before 

 your eyes, and the only way you can see it is to cause it 

 to change its position. The old bird feigns great dis- 

 tress and resorts to every subterfuge to lead you away 

 from her brood. 



94 



