The Ways of Bob-White 251 



with a desire to tear him in pieces, but the father was ever on guard, and the iights 

 between the two birds were often long and fierce. At the very first sound of the 

 battle-cry, the chick would disappear and remain lost until the fight was well 

 over. 



On September 10, plaintive little sounds were heard, very much like the faint 

 "peep" of young turkeys — and at once it seemed as though the ground itself 

 was moving along, it was so impossible to distinguish the tiny Quail from the 

 dead oak leaves. There were over twenty of the Httle brown things, and with 

 them were two cocks and two hens! Just how the forced friendship had come' 

 about, we will never know, of course, but it was apparent at once that the two 

 large families had become hopelessly mixed, although the Quail were just from 

 the nest. The chick was there too, suddenly developed into a small cock, very 

 independent, and scratched energetically for the babies, who commenced to eat 

 wheat at once. Since that time they have grown amazingly, and as soon as they 

 could fly, they came to the wheat on the window, and eight have been seen there 

 at one time, each one singing his sweet httle song of "wheat, wheat ah!" 



The two famiUes soon separated, but the wicked cock and his hen have only 

 three of the chickens. They seldom come here now. The other cock is a grand 

 bird, quite capable of managing his large covey. On one occasion three of the 

 chicks loitered behind, and were slow in coming to the grain, and the ever-watchful 

 father seeing this, ran around back of them, gave one a sharp peck that started 

 him off, and the other two with him. The cock followed them slowly, and with 

 great dignity. While the chicks are scratching and feeding — never longer thaa 

 two minutes — he almost always sits on top of the fence at the corner of the house 

 where he softly whisdes his two notes — "all's well!" One day, however, he changed 

 off to different notes, also very low, but which every little bird heard, and recog- 

 nized as a warning, for instantly every one of them disappeared from sight — all 

 but the two chicks that happened to be on the window, but they, too, squatted 

 right there, and drew their Httle heads in. I have always thought that it was 

 a bit of discipline on the cock's part — a kind of a "fire drill." He is a handsome 

 bird, his back a bright cinnamon, and his crest jet-black. Several times when he 

 has been on the sill, I have put my finger within two inches of his sharp little 

 eyes. He must have seen it, of course, but both birds and squirrels seem to think 

 that inside the glass and screen is another world that does not concern them„ 



This opportunity to study Quail almost daily, in their natural wild life; to 

 watch their wonderful affection for each other; to learn their many calls, everj 

 one of which has a meaning, is as unusual as it is delightful. 



