154 BIRDS 



dove is the most common representative in eastern North 

 America. 



BOB-WHITE 



The Bob-white, often called quail or partridge, is a 

 resident of eastern and middle North America. The male 

 is handsomely mottled with a shade of soft reddish-brown 

 almost approaching old rose; black and white is conspic- 

 uous in various places. In the female, colors are more som- 

 ber, the white being replaced with buff. The bob-white, like 

 most ground birds, is well protected by color resemblance to 

 the surroundings. The original name quail apphes to an 

 Oriental bird mentioned in the Bible. 



The clear, distinct call notes of the male give rise to 

 the name "bob-white." The three-syllabled whistle sounds 

 like " Me-bob-white," with particular emphasis on the last 

 syllable. The first syllable is rather faint, and at a dis- 

 tance one hears nothing but the name "bob-white." As 

 a call note during the fall and winter, when the birds are 

 flocking, the syllable " me " is used by the different birds in 

 reorganizing the little band which has become scattered. 



The bob-white is resident in the same locality and, for 

 mutual protection, remain in small flocks of from ten to 

 thirty from September until early April. 



Their method of "roosting" is practical and pictur- 

 esque. During the short days of winter, when the snow 

 is in the woods, I have frequently tracked the little fellows 

 to the edge of a brush pile, where the flock is encamped for 

 the night. They cluster in a circle, the tails together, each 

 bird facing in a different direction. This formation con- 



