DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 



The nest and eggs can not be mistaken for that of any other species. 



REMAEKS : 



The nest figured in the plate was taken the fifteenth of June, 1880. It was built near the remain- 

 ing root of an old stump surrounded with grass and a few stalks of clover. The eggs were completely 

 concealed by the covering which the grass aff'ordcd, but in making the drawing this protection was sep- 

 arated sufficiently to show the nest and eggs. The nest is com})osed of dead grass, dry leaves, and 

 weed-stems. 



At the time of the first settlements in Ohio, it is quite probable Quail were scarce, and found only 

 in certain localities. The extensive and dense forests, covering almost the entire territory, made it 

 ill adapted to their nature; and those which were enabled to perpetuate their existence occupied only 

 some of the limited open tracts of land then found here and there over the country. In support of this 

 conclusion I will here refer to the facts contained in a statement made by my great-grand-father who 

 emigrated to this State directly after peace Avith the Indians Avas e0*ected by General Wayne under 

 Washington, and, in the Spring of 1798, located with his family on what was then named and since known 

 as the "High-bank Prairie," near Chillicothe. In this seemingly favorable locality he resided several 

 years before the voice of the (iuail A^■as heard ; so long that he abandoned the anticipation of Quail- 

 shooting, and questioned if it would ever be recognized as a sport in Ohio. One day in early summer 

 he thought he heard a Avell-recognized though suppressed sound, '^ Boh-Whitey Somewhat doubting the 

 sense of hearing, he immediately made observations and procured additional evidence, that of sight. 

 Yes, he actually heard and saw the bird. Elated with the good news he proceeded to the cabin and told 

 his discovery with so much excitement and enthusiasm that it created a laugh at his expense. He 

 excused his manner, however, by saying it Avas sufficient to excite any one, to knoAv that a highly 

 esteemed and familiar friend had found his Avay through such an interminable Avilderness, and announced 

 his arriA'al in that modest but meaning- Avav. 



Bob-White is really a bird of civilization. He flourishes best near the abodes of man. The cultiva- 

 tion of the soil and settlement of the country increase their number seemingly by lessening their 

 dangers, and giving an easy mode of subsisting. With no friend but agriculture, Avith no protection but 

 fields of grass and grain, they become abundant in spite of the Hawk, the OavI, the CroAv, the Blue Jay, 

 the Opossum, the Raccoon, the Polecat, the Weasel, the Fox, the Norway Rat, the Snake, the Dog, the Cat, 

 the moAving machine, the sportsman, the trapper, the heavy summer rains, and the Avinter snows, each 

 of Avhich has an influence in circumscribing their Avonderful capacity for increase. 



The Quail regards man as his friend, although he is not a stranger to man's treachery and cruelty. 

 If not for the ill treatment so often received from those Avhose friendship he courts, he Avould soon 

 become quite as domestic as the barn-yard poultry. In fact, he frequently presses his claims so perse- 

 veringly in this line, that they are received and recognized. Some years since, early in May, I dis- 

 covered a nest being built by a pair of these birds, in a lot only a short distance from the house. Each 

 day, for several days, they added a little to the appearance of the structure, and when completed, an e^yg 

 Avas deposited daily until nineteen filled the nest, and incubation began. Up to this time I had been 

 extremely cautious in my observations, especially those approaching familiarity. But now I made inyself 

 quite at home, going to the nest frequently every day, until the birds became so accustomed tJ my 

 presence, and so well assured that in this confidence there was no danger, that the female would even 

 permit my hand under her and to remove an egg, without being disturbed or getting off* the nest. A 

 week before the expected arrival of the little ones, I made a tight fence of boards, about two feet-high, 

 inclosing a space twelve feet square. After hatching, the family remained in the inclosure and were fed 



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