The Bob White 287 



worst. As a rule, they do not depend upon flight as a protec- 

 tion from danger, but rather upon their protective coloring. 

 If, however, flight becomes necessary, they suddenly spring 

 into the air with a whirr, and their short and strongly con- 

 structed wings enable them to quickly reach their highest 

 speed. They do not fly in a bunch, but scatter, and if a forest 

 is near by they will fly into it. When danger has passed their 

 leader calls them together again. 



Generally they do not walk but fly to their roost with a 

 low, soft, noiseless flight, so that their enemies may not hear 

 or track them. When the roost is reached, their manner of 

 adjusting themselves for the night is unique. They arrange 

 themselves in a circle, with their tails inward, so that they 

 touch each other, and with heads outward every way for 

 watching and for easy escape, if discovered by an enemy. 

 Think of having to live such a life ! 



"The close covey vexed with various woes, 



While sad they sit their anxious mother round, 



With dismal shade the closing net descends, 



Or by the sudden gun they flutter, fall, 



And vile with blood is stained their freckled down." 



The young leave the nest just as soon as they are out of 

 the shell, and at once commence their good work of destroying 

 noxious seeds and insects, and each of them destroys an enor- 

 mous amount of these. How cunning the little fellows are ! 

 The old birds remain with them and lead them to where the 

 most food is to be obtained, and are ever on the watch for an 

 enemy. 



"Under the alders, along the brooks, 



Under the hemlocks, along the hills, 

 Spreading their plumage with furtive looks, 



Daintily pecking the leaves at will; 

 Whirr! and they flit from the startled sight, 

 And the forest is silent, the air is still." 



The Department of Agriculture at Washington has had 

 a careful study made of the economic value of the Bob-white. 

 In his exhaustive report to the Department, Dr. Sylvester D. 

 Judd says, "The results obtained may be thus summed up. 

 The Bob-white is probably the most useful abundant species 



