BIRDS OF FIELD AND GARDEN. 329 



a stump. If there are trees near by, it runs quickly and 

 squats upon the ground behind a tree or close to its trunk. 

 Its resemblance to its surroundings is so close that it seems 

 to disappear, effacing itself before one's eyes like a witch in 

 a fairy tale, as it flattens itself on the ground. Bob-white 

 naturally "lies to a dog," for it seems to have a supreme 

 contempt for the blundering animal. This apparent con- 

 fidence in its own invisibility is often fatal, however, where 

 trained bird dogs are entered against it. 



There is some reason to believe that the Quail is migratory 

 at times. Some people relate that Quail have been seen 

 flying south in large flocks at the approach of winter ; others 

 aver that many have been drowned while crossing large 

 bodies of water ; still others tell us that the birds migrate 

 long distances by running ; but every covey that I have been 

 able to watch has passed the winter not far from the place 

 where it was reared. These observations have often been 

 interrupted by the destruction of the entire brood by farmers, 

 gunners, or sportsmen. A great many broods "migrate" in 

 this manner, never to return. Still, probably Grouse and 

 Quail sometimes become restless in the fall, and move about 

 the country ; but it is extremely doubtful if there are any 

 general movements of either species that can be designated 

 as autumnal or vernal migrations in the ordinary sense in 

 which these terms are applied. 



The feeding habits of the Bob-white are such that it must 

 be ranked by the farmer as one of the most useful birds of 

 field and garden. It is very nearly harmless, as it takes 

 little grain or fruit. Occasionally in the cornfield it pecks 

 at a broken-down ear of corn, and it picks up a good deal of 

 waste grain in the stubble of oats and wheat. It sometimes 

 eats a few strawberries, but these are evidently not a favorite 

 food, for birds in captivity have refused them when hungry. 

 On the other hand, Bob-Avhite, during spring and summer, 

 feeds on many of the most destructive pests of garden and 

 field, and in fall and winter eats great numbers of the seeds 

 of many noxious weeds. Dr. Judd makes some interesting 

 calculations regarding the quantity of insects and weed seeds 

 consumed by the Bob-white in Virginia and Xorth Carolina. 



