202 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



boy wlio can handle a gun effectually may count upon a 

 full and constant supply at all times of the year. On the 

 lakes and rivers are myriads of water-fowl, and in the 

 .woods abound splendid specimens of the wild turkey, fif- 

 teen to twenty pounds being no uncommon weight for 

 these latter to reach — and they are "splendid eating," being 

 fully equal to the much-vaunted domesticated turkey of 

 the North. Of the smaller birds that are abundant in the 

 piney woods as in the hammock, the partridge, or quail, 

 comes first in the estimation of the epicure ; and truly this 

 fat, chubby little fellow, with his merry whistle and buoy- 

 ant call of " Bob White ! Bob White !" is as fine a tid-bit, 

 broiled and served on toast, as one need ever wish to taste. 

 But all the same, we always regret the killing of a part- 

 ridge, partly because of that joyous whistle of his, and 

 partly because he is so bold and saucy and fearless. You 

 look out of your window in the early morning, and not 

 infrequently the first thing you see is a "covey" of fat, 

 brown little fellows, running about right under your hand, 

 as it w^re, or sitting on the edge of your seed-boxes, or 

 perhaps it is only a solitary couple who have left their nest 

 close by in search of provender ; you move, and they lift 

 their dainty striped heads, cock their bright eyes at you, 

 and run away a few yards, then stop and look back to see 

 what you are going to do about it. If satisfied there is no 

 malice in your heart, or yearnings in your stomach, they 

 come running back again and resume their search for 

 crumbs or seeds right under your eye, hunting about with 

 the most intense business-like air imaginable. 



And this is why we always feel sorry to see the fat little 

 creatures lying limp and cold before us, the joyous wdiistle 

 stilled forever, the brown head drooping, the busy feet 

 stiff* and nerveless. But they are good to eat, no doubt 

 of that, and they are eagerly sought after with gun and 



