348 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



utterance, bobwhite, may be heard about the farms, 

 particularly in the morning hours, and bobwhite has 

 come into use to designate the bird itself. Sometimes 

 the call is uttered with a short introductory note, and 

 these, with a few alarm calls, or calls of inquiry when 

 the birds have become scattered, seem to be about all 

 the vocal means of communication which these birds 

 Have. 



In many parts of the South, where the quail are in 

 greater abundance, their sweet notes may be heard in 

 many directions, at many distances, in the early morn- 

 ing and evening hours. These calls work great harm 

 to it, for by them the shooter learns the whereabouts 

 of all the birds in his neighborhood, and locates the 

 haunts of every bevy. , In the fall, the rallying cry 

 often serves to inform the sportsman as to the best 

 course for the morning's hunt. In the South the quail 

 is called partridge. 



In the fall, when the shooting opens, the quail soon 

 learns of the gunning dangers, and its habits thereupon 

 change quickly to conform to a life of greater safety, 

 though it will run many risks to be near an abundance 

 of food. However, when danger is impending, it 

 avoids the open much more than when danger is not, 

 and is more alert, quicker to suspect mankind, and 

 quicker to take alarm. 



When spring returns, the quail seem to lose their 

 fears of man, and they breed with little reference to 

 concealment from him. Their confidence is unimpaired 



