THE QUAILS OF CALIFOKXIA. 67 



AVhite. Beyond question it is a far harder bird to kill, 

 but taken under the same circumstances, and especially 

 at the same distance of rising, it certainly is not a harder 

 bird to hit. It flies no faster and twists no more than 

 Bob AVhite does. Nevertheless, it is true that it bothers 

 the best shots very much at first. Capt. Ira Paine, on his 

 first introduction to this bird, some three years ago, a few 

 miles back of San Diego, missed his first nine birds in 

 succession all single birds, all within easy range, and all 

 missed clean before he settled down to steady shooting. 

 Captain Paine told me of this the same day, and two 

 friends of mine saw the whole performance. I have 

 known many instances, almost as remarkable, where the 

 missing lasted the whole day; and it has taken some good 

 shots two or three days to get to shooting well. This 

 seems to be due to the great numbers of the birds, rising 

 all around one at different times and distances, all buz- 

 zing and chirping and j umping from unexpected places, 

 which, combined with the peculiar color of the birds, and 

 the strange background of the picture, is quite certain 

 to demoralize the oldest shot from the East. 



One recovers rapidly from this, and in a few days can 

 make as clean a score as upon Bob White provided, 

 however, that he has in the meantime learned how to hunt 

 the bird; for if left to work out his own knowledge, 

 plenty of vexation is yet in store for him. Perhaps at 

 the first rising of the flock he brings down a bird with 

 each barrel. He walks confidently to the place where the 

 first one fell. A moment ago he believed he could put 

 his finger upon the precise spot where it fell. He is now 

 prepared to swear that no mortal, either native or foreign, 

 can tell one bush from another. He discovers a few 

 feathers on a bush, under which he looks instead of look- 

 ing several yards ahead and in line with the place where 

 the bird rose. He quickly concludes it will be easier to 



