156 NOTES ON THE 
observations of this species. The nest varies considerably in 
the amount, as well as the kind of material of which it is com- 
posed. In the vicinity of meadows where grass is abundant: 
it is constructed entirely of that material, necessitating con- 
siderable bulk, but is nevertheless very perfectly concealed in 
a thick tuft with the entrance at one side, somewhat after the 
manner of the Oven Bird. When in the forest, the preference 
is given to a little hollow under an old decayed log, where the 
nest is constructed of leaves principally, or entirely. 
In these cases, it has no covering, but when the eggs are 
in process of being laid, the female covers them com- 
pletely with leaves to conceal them in her absence. If those 
ingeniously distributed leaves are disturbed by man or 
animal before she returns, she _ will instantly  dis- 
cover the intrusion, and abandon her nest even though 
no eggs have been broken or removed. Whether from 
a perception of smell or the difference in the placing of 
the leaves by the intruder I was never able to tell until upon 
finding one a few years since, I removed each leaf carefully 
with a pocket forceps, and after making all desired observa- 
tions of the eggs, I replaced the leaves one by one as nearly 
as I found them as possible, and repeated the process every 
day or two, until the clutch was completed, without arous- 
ing the maternal suspicions in the least. This result satisfied 
me that she could smell an intrusion made without the use of 
the forceps. Winds might disarrange the leaves during her 
absence as much as I would, but leave no scent upon them or 
upon the eggs. The usual number is from 14 to 16, or even 
18, but upon removing the seventh each time after it was 
deposited, in one instance, a gentleman of extensive observa- 
tion, who has contributed much valuable information upon the 
habits of different birds, succeeded in obtaining 32 succes- 
sively before the little dispenser had suspected her mathema- 
tics. Their appearance is too familiar to require mention. 
Although with its order a seed eater, that is not all. 
The quail is another of the many maligned species of birds 
that is entitled to the protection of the State as a friend to 
agriculture. Although they may appropriate occasionally 
some of the late planted berries of grain in spring they pay 
soundly for it in the destruction of insects that are injurious 
to grain, fruit and vegetables later. Nearly the entire food of 
the breeding birds consists of larva and insects, and that of the 
numerous brood exclusively so, for the other sources of sup- 
