258 BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



tected by a scale. They have a world-wide distribution. 

 The Bob White (Ortyx Virginiana) is a familiar form, 

 about nine and a half inches in length, the general color 

 chestnut-red, barred and streaked with lighter tints below, 

 the head richly marked with black and white streaks. In 

 the female the white markings of the head are brownish- 

 yellow. They nest in the grass, laying from ten to fifteen 

 white eggs. To divert attention from the young, the 

 mother has been known to throw herself at the feet of a 

 sportsman and pretend to be dying, suddenly recovering 

 when the young had escaped. In Pennsylvania they are 

 known as partridges, and in New York as quails. 



The plumed partridge (Ortortyx pictus) and the Cali- 

 fornia quail {Lophortyx) are other forms. 



VALUE. As game. The Chinese quail (Cotttrnix) is only four 

 inches in length, and is kept in cages for its fighting propensities, and 

 formerly for the singular purpose of warming the hands of its owner 

 in winter. 



Grouse (Tetraonida], About fifteen species are known. 

 The prairie-hen (Cupidonia cupido] is a familiar ex- 

 ample. Its length is about seventeen inches. From the 

 sides of the neck extends a tuft of pointed feathers, be- 

 neath which is a bare spot capable of inflation, and in- 

 tensely red. They range from the prairies southward to 

 Louisiana. In early spring they congregate, and are ex- 

 tremely pugnacious, fighting for their mates, and uttering 

 curious booming sounds that can be heard a mile. The 

 nest is formed, between April and May, of leaves of grass, 

 and concealed in the grass. The eggs, eight to twelve in 

 number, are light-colored, and are hatched in about nine- 

 teen days. The mother shows great intelligence in trying 

 to allure invaders from the nest. In most parts of the 

 Scandinavian Peninsula is found the noblest ally of this 

 family the capercali (Tetrao urogallus). The black cock 

 (Lyrurus tetrix) of Europe is an equally rich form. 



