QUAIL; BOB WHITE. 



ORT7X VIRGINIANUS 



THE quail is said to be a general inhabitant of North 

 America, but familiar as I have been with almost all 

 parts of Vermont for more than thirty years, I have seen 

 only one quail in the State, and he was evidently a 

 "tramp." I heard him just at night, the first day of 

 July, 1884. Did not get sight of him till the next morn- 

 ing, when he came out into the sun, stood on the top rail 

 of a fence, warmed himself, and whistled his spirited, 

 forceful tune, his solid little body swelling and throbbing 

 at every note, especially when he rose to the tonic. 



I was prepared for him, and made an exact copy of 

 what he gave me : 



Bob, Bob white, Bob white, Bob, Bob white. 



After the performance he stood, evidently listening for 

 a reply ; none came, and without another note he disap- 

 peared, to be seen no more. 



The quail is about one-half the size of our partridge, 

 and resembles it in plumage and style of flight. It seems 

 a little strange that the time of incubation should be four 



