8 



h Game of any Value to the Farmer^ 



quail (page 393) : " Our observationa of them," he says, 

 " naturally begin at that season of the year when they 

 relinquish their habits of extreme cunning and vigilance 

 for those of confidence in man's respect for domestic life, 

 that is, in the early part of summer. Though among the 

 hardiest and most active of feathered creatures, they are 

 prudent in spring, and do not commit themselves to the 

 risks of incubation until they have received full assurance 

 of fitting weather. In this respect they differ from the 

 feebler, but more venturesome, woodcock, whose prema- 

 ture endeavors, founded upon the first deceptive smile of 

 spring, to raise a family, are often defeated by an unex- 

 pected snowstorm. The quail do not begin until May, 

 when they announce the fact to all their neighbors with- 

 in half a mile, by their loud, frank and cheery whistle, 

 which is generally translated into our uncouth language 

 as ' Bob White.' The male is not now constrained by 

 fear, and instead of any false pride, he has a proper sense 

 of his own comely appearance. He knows that he is at- 

 tending adequately to his department in the great busi- 

 ness of nature, and is entirely willing that any should see 

 him. He has no fear of man, but he keeps an eye to the 

 hawks, cats and other predatory enemies who respect 

 neither time, place nor season. He is willing to take any 

 amount of family responsibility. Nature cannot ask too 

 much of him ; he will whistle to two or three wives if 

 necessary, and he will even accept the law of Moses, and 

 assume the part of husband towards his brother's widow. 

 Should his wife propose a family of fifteen instead of 

 nine, he does not complain, and moreover, having escorted 

 his young family about for a short time, he is ready to go 

 through this once, or even twice more. In fact he carries 

 his amiability so far as often to introduce a half-grown 

 family to the rigors of winter, so that it is not uncommon 

 to find a covey of these little ' cheepers * when hardly 

 able to fly even in November. A successful pair of quail 

 often turn out twenty-five young in a season. 



«t 



