BOB WHITE. 



31 



webs. WitiRS, rufous or grayish, blotched with black like the back, 

 with buff edRcs on scapulars and inner secondaries forming a 

 continuous rather broad line down either side of the l)ack. Pri- 

 maries, dark brown. Throat, white, a narrow black line under 

 tlic eye. Ear-coverts, chestnut, sometimes black ; a black ring 

 si:rrounds the white of the throat, commencing at ear-coverts, 

 [breast and under parts, white or buffy white, crossed with 

 irregular narrow black lines. Flank feathers, rich chestnut, with 

 white edges barred with black. Some specimens have a bani of 

 chestnut across the breast beneath the black ring. Vent, w' 'te. 

 Under tail-coverts, varying from pale to deep chestnut, \\X\\. 

 white on webs near their tips and a V-shaped black mark, but 

 this last is sometimes absent. Tail, blui.sh-gray, sometimes ver- 

 niiculated with black or brown near tips. Bill black. Legs and 

 feet yellowish brown. Total length about 9J inches; wing, 4^ ; 

 tail. 2\ ; tarsus, \\ ; bill, g. 



There is much individual variation in the markings of Quail, 

 although they may have a clo.se general resemblance to each 

 other, and birds from different sections of the United States, not 

 inhabited by subspecies, present numerous differences both in 

 color and style of markings. But this is only what may be 

 expected when a species is scattered over so large a portion of the 

 continent as is this one, and subjected to such a variety of climate 

 as is experienced with) i the boundaries of its distribution. The 

 above description will, however, answer for the average style of 

 " Bob White " generally met with. 



Adult Female. — There is not any especial difference in the 

 plumage of the sexes, but the female can always be recognized 

 by the buff stripe over the eye, and the buff throat. In other 

 respects she closely resembles the male, and has about the same 

 dimensions as are given above for him. 



Downy Young. — Head, buff, with a chestnut line on forehead 

 broadening to a patch on occiput. A black line behind the eye, 

 and a spot of the same color at the corner of the mouth. Upper 

 parts, chestnut ; lower parts, grayish buff, brownish on sides. 



