2 86 Birds of Buzzard's Roost 



says : "Eighteen days are required for their hatching. Where 

 the father is not fortunate enought to possess a harem a part 

 of the work devolves upon him, while the mother seeks food 

 and recreation ; but where there are several females, the work 

 is divided amicably among them, each sitting about half a day 

 at a stretch, then calling her relief with a low note, if there 

 be only two, the male taking no part in the labor of incubation 

 whatever. Should the family be larger, two females will sit 

 side by side on the eggs, there being too many for one breast 

 to cover. Meantime the husband remains close by, chirping 

 encouragement in a low tone, and betime making the field 

 vocal with his loud clear whistle." I find that there is a diver- 

 sity of statement among authors upon this subject. Major 

 Bendire says : "Incubation lasts about twenty-four days, in 

 which duty the male is said to assist at times, at least." Mr. 

 Dugmore says : "Incubation occupies twenty-four days, both 

 birds assisting." Miss Merriman says : "The bird's domestic 

 life is particularly interesting from the part the male plays in 

 the family, helping to build the nest, feeding his mate on the 

 eggs, and in case of death brooding in her place." Mr. Butler 

 says: "The female does the sitting and cares for the family. 

 Occasionally, when she has been killed, the male has been 

 known to assume the task of sitting and fulfilling the duties of 

 the mate." It will be seen that it is hard to reconcile these 

 records. Personally, I have never seen the male taking any 

 part in the nest building and incubation, but I have seen him 

 taking care of the young birds. In the summer of 1899, while 

 tramping in the country, I came close upon a covey of them 

 before they noticed me. As quick as thought the old bird, a 

 male, gave the alarm and just as quick the little ones were 

 gone in every direction, and the old one was fluttering away 

 in an opposite direction. I understood his trick, and paid no 

 attention to him, but tried to find one of the little ones. He 

 observed what I was doing and flew into a tree near by and 

 kept up his warning notes to the hidden ones. They heeded 

 his warnings and eluded my search although the grass in 

 which they were hidden was very short. 



The Bob-whites are ever on the alert for the approach of 

 an enemy and they have many man, perhaps being the 



