450 BIKDS — PEKDICID^. 



The complement of eggs is from fifteen to twenty-five, usnally about eighteen. Oc- 

 casionally a nest is discovered which contains thirty or forty, and even more. Such a 

 set is without doubt the joint labor of two or three hens. The eggs are pure white, 

 unless stained by the bed of grass upon which they rest. At one end they are quite 

 pointed, at the other obtusely rounded, and measure about 1.18 x .98 of an inch. 



At the time of the iirst settlements in Ohio, it is quite ijrobable Quail were scarce, and 

 found only in certain localities. The extensive and dense forests, covering almost the 

 entire territory, made it ill-adaptod to thoir 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 ooncluBion 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 with the Indiana was affected by General Wayne under 

 Washington, and, in the Spring of 1793, located with his family on what was then 

 named and since known as the ' High-bank Prairie,' near ChiUicothe. In this seemingly 

 favorable locality he resided several years before the voice of the Quail was 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 

 well-recognized though suppressed sound, 'Bob-White.' 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 pro- 

 ceeded 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 was 

 snfflcient to excite any one, to know that a highly esteemed and familiar bird had found 

 its way through such an interminable wilderness, and announced his arrival in that 

 modest and meaning way. 



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

 The cultivation ofsj^he soil and settlement of the country increase their number seem- 

 ingly by lessening^J their dangers, and giving an easy mode of subsisting. With no 

 friend but agrieulthre, with no protection but fields of grass and grain, they become 

 abundant in spite of the Hawk, the Owl, the Crow, the Blue Jay, the Opposeum, the 

 Kacooon, the Polecat, the Weasel, the Norway Eat, the Snake, the Dog, the Cat, the 

 mowing machine, the sportsman, the trapper, the summer rains, and the winter snows, 

 each of which has an influence in circumscribing their wonderful capacity for increase. 



The Quail regards man as his friend, although he is not a stranger to man's (areachery 

 and cruelty. If not for the ill-treatment so often received froM those whose ft-iendship 

 he courts, he would soon become quite as domestic as the bam-yard poultry. In fact, 

 he frequently presses his claims so perseveringly in this line, that they are reaeivod and 

 recognized. Some years since, early in May, I digcoverod a nast being buUt by a X)*ir 

 of these birds, in a lot only a short distance from the house. Ea«h d»y, for gevenal dsys, 

 they added a little to the appearance of the structure, and when completed, as egg was 

 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 fa- 

 miliarity. Bat now I made myself quite at home, going to the nest firequantly every 

 day ; until the birds became so accustomed to my presence, and eo 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 neet. A week 

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

 feet high, inoleEing a space twelve feet square. After hatohing, the family remained in 

 the encloBore and were fed the same as domestic chickens, neither the old nor young 



