54 THE QUAIL. 



like forest, I put up a small flock of Quails. They are now 

 a rarity in Orleans County, New York, so much so that laws 

 have been passed in this and adjoining counties giving them 

 special protection throughout the year. But who could 

 wantonly injure a Quail? This is surely the most winning 

 game-bird in our land. Who can blame certain tender- 

 hearted little children, who will not accept any apology 

 whatever, for taking the life of one of them ? The flight of 

 the Quail on being startled is quite like that of the Partridge, 

 except that it does not generally fly so far. The surprise to 

 the observer, however, is greater, since the Quail is often in 

 quite considerable flocks, whereas the Partridge is much 

 less gregarious. Take your first chance for a shot at a flock 

 of Quails, for, after the first putting up, they are scattered 

 and very shy. Having flown in every direction, they en- 

 sconce themselves away so perfectly that they are not to be 

 seen, till one by one they fly up, almost from under foot; or, 

 if the whole flock start, it will be from many different points 

 in the vicinity, and so they will afford no shot, except singly. 



The following citation from Audubon is so well worded, 

 and so in accord with the facts, that I shall adopt it ver- 

 batim: 



"When an enemy is perceived they immediately utter a 

 lisping note, frequently repeated, and run off, with their tail 

 spread, their crest erected, and their wings drooping, towards 

 the shelter of some thicket or the top of a fallen tree. At 

 other times, when one of the flock has accidentally strayed 

 to a distance from its companions, it utters two notes louder 

 than any of those mentioned above, the first shorter and 

 lower than the second, when an answer is immediately 

 returned by one of the pack. This species has, moreover, 

 a love-call, which is louder and clearer than its other notes, 

 and can be heard at a distance of several hundred yards. It 



