28 



AMERICAN QUAIL OR PARTRIDGE. 



which -in their turn, being aware of the close proximity of their 

 deadliest enemy, try to save themselves by running away. Farm- 

 ers and proprietors of orchards should not regard the Downy Wood- 

 pecker as a destroyer of their fruit-trees, but bestow on him a special 

 protection, as it is certain that he picks out of fruit-trees myriads of 

 insects or their offspring. I have observed that just such trees as 

 had his marks or bored holes in the bark, and especially such as 

 had the trunk on all sides marked with his holes, so that they 

 appeared as if loads of buckshot had been fired into them from all 

 sides, had the healthiest and thriftiest appearance of all the trees in 

 the orchard. I also noticed that such trees were not only the heav- 

 iest laden with fruit, but that the fruit was of a better quality. In 

 the months of September, October, and November, these Wood- 

 peckers are seen indefatigably engaged in orchards, probing every 

 crack and crevice, and boring through the bark in quest of the 

 larvae and eggs of the summer insects, chiefly so on the south and 

 southwestern sides, the warmer sides of the tree. Of these larvae 

 or eggs he destroys countless numbers, that would otherwise give 

 birth to myriads of their race in the succeeding summer, preying 

 upon the very vitals of the tree, and destroying not only the fruit 

 crop, but the very tree itself. 



The smaller birds of the Hawk tribe are the enemies of the 

 Downy Woodpeckers, and many of these fall a prey to the former; 

 but the Downies generally escape their enemies by their skill in 

 running around the tree, or by concealing themselves in cracks or 

 holes. Their young are often destroyed by weasels or squirrels, 

 and the latter, when they approach the nest, are attacked with 

 lamentable outcries, for the Downy loves his young most tenderly, 

 notwithstanding their ugly, unwieldy, and shapeless forms, and 

 even feed them long after they are full fledged and flying about. 



The Downy Woodpeckers are easily kept in cages, and become 

 soon accustomed to the artificial food given them in addition to dif- 

 ferent seeds, fruits, and berries. They are very amusing, always 

 living on the best terms with other small tenants of the same cage. 

 *Their cage must be rather high, and have a small trunk on which 

 they can climb, and have a chance for boring and hammering. 

 They must not be exposed to strong currents of air, which 

 invariably kill them. The female is distinguished from the 

 male in outward appearance, by having no red on the hind head, 

 that part being white and her breast and belly being of a more 

 dirty white color. 



PLATE XXVII. 



American Quail op Partridge. (Ortyx Virginianus^) 



The Quail inhabits this continent as far as Nova Scotia. Its 

 limit on the east is the Atlantic ocean, on the south the Gulf of 

 Mexico, and on the west the Rocky Mountains. It is also found on 

 some of the islands of the Gulf, in the warmer parts of North 

 America. The Quail is a regular resident, but in the northern or 

 colder portions it performs regular annual excursions toward the 

 South on the approach of severe frosts, and these excursions some- 

 times assume the character of migrations. This explains why in 

 some places Quails are sometimes found in incredibly great num- 

 bers where they have been seldom seen before. 



The Quail prefers open fields, interspersed with brushwood or 

 grass edges, and similar places, for protection. They are occasion- 

 ally found in the heart of a dense forest. During the night they 

 retire to a sheltered place on some grassy plain, or to the weedy 

 borders of the woods, where they cluster close together. They 

 are also found roosting on trees during the night, but this appears 

 to be the case only exceptionally. During the day they perch on 

 trees, and very often, when alarmed or chased by dogs, they fly 

 to the trees and alight on the middle branches. On such occa- 

 sions they may be seen to walk and rnn on the branches with perfect 



ease. They run on the groundwith great dexterity and considerable 

 elegance. Their flight is steady and rather swift, accompanied, 

 especially at the start, with a loud whirring sound — perhaps occa- 

 sioned by the shortness, concavity, and rapid motions of the wings 

 when frightened. When flying off without being frightened, this 

 whirring sound is only just perceptible. The voice of this bird 

 consists of two sounds, resembling the words "Bob White," or 

 " Bob, Bob White," sometimes uttered with an introductory bird- 

 note, and very often repeated. The expression of tenderness is a 

 soft twittering sound ; when frightened, it is a lamentable whistling. 



Quails live together in coveys or flocks from summer through 

 the winter ; but as soon as the spring opens the coveys separate, 

 and each male chases and wins his female, but often only after 

 hard fighting. They now begin to look out for a suitable habita- 

 tion, and this makes the scene at that time very lively, for the ex- 

 citement of the male is not only expressed by continuous cries, but 

 by fighting with other males. Toward evening they may be seen 

 on the fences, usually on the top of the posts or poles, trying to 

 make themselves conspicuous, and, by their loud calling, to induce 

 other males to approach them for a fight. After the fight they re- 

 turn to their high seats. Later, but seldom before the first of May, 

 the female begins to build the nest. The place for the nest is 

 chosen with great caution , and is usually hollowed out in a tussock of 

 grass or weeds. It is curiously formed of grass-stalks and leaves, 

 and is usually deep enough to admit the entire body of the sitting 

 bird. As the surrounding grass grows more and more, it covers 

 and shields the nest from intrusion, forming sometimes on that 

 side, where the female passes in and out, a regular archway. 



The eggs are roundish, the shells being thin and of a clear 

 white color, though sometimes a little dotted with clay-colored or 

 yellowish specks. The number of eggs varies, being sometimes 

 twelve, sometimes twenty, and even more. Both male and female 

 sit alternately; but, besides, the male sits as a watch. After about 

 twenty-three days the handsome young birds break the shell and 

 make their appearance. They are covered with a close down of 

 a rufous color, streaked above longitudinally with buff and dark 

 brown. The lower part, with the exception of the throat, which 

 is yellowish, is of a grayish color. The young are able to run 

 about as soon as they are out of the shell, but usually remain in 

 the nest for some time. Both parents take care of them, and lead 

 them about ; both squat down to receive them, when cold or tired, 

 under their bodies and wings. In such case the head of one 

 parent-bird is usually turned in the direction opposite to that of the 

 other, and, in this position, they warm their numerous brood. 



When the family runs about, the male, true to his office as senti- 

 nel, can be seen running ahead of them, while the female follows 

 in the rear, at some distance off. The male strides along with a 

 haughty step, turning his head from side to side, and eying every- 

 thing about him. Should any other bird come in his way it alarms 

 him, and the stranger is regarded as an enemy. If he thinks he 

 can conquer the newcomer, he attacks him and drives him off, 

 feeling himself bound to keep the road clear. It is very interest- 

 ing to see such a family of Quails. In cases of real danger, the 

 male parent exposes himself to the enemy, while the mother-bird 

 leads the young off, as quickly as possible, to a place of safety. 

 In case she should be deprived of her mate, the young squat down 

 in the grass, or find, in the low ground, some small cavity or other 

 suitable place for concealment, while the mother tries to mislead the 

 enemy by feigning lameness, but always managing to elude the 

 grasp of the enemy. After she has coaxed, in this manner, the real 

 or supposed foe to some distance away, and the young have run off 

 to a safe hiding-place, on a sudden she rises and flies in a direction 

 opposite to the place where her young are concealed. After all dan- 

 ger is over, she returns and calls her brood together again. In 

 about three weeks the young are able to fly, and this, of course, 

 diminishes the dangers that threaten them ; for then, on the ap- 

 proach of an enemy, the whole family rise, and each of the young 

 tries to reach a place of safety as soon as possible, while the parent- 



