QUAIL. 451 



■showing the least fear at my spproach. They soon grew strong enough to get over the 

 fence, and I turned them all ont. 



I have known a number of instances where these hirds, having been reared with the 

 farm poultry, became completely domesticated. In one instance, nine beautiful full- 

 grown ones, that had been hatched and cared for by a common hen, with some of her own 

 chickens, had the liberty of all-out- doors, yet they remained constantly about the 

 housd and garden, seldom using their wings, and at the call to feed the poultry, they 

 were the first to respond, and not until completely satisfied with the repast, was a 

 chicken, turkey, or other fowl permitted by these pugnacious little fellows to intrude or 

 take a crumb. A slight attempt was made to induce this brood to roost upon a perch, 

 after the manner of their relatives, the chickens. The success was, however, only par- 

 tial ; their attachment to the old methods was too great, or their feeling of security so 

 much increased by placing themselves together in a circle with heads outward, as they 

 naturally do at night, that only a compromise was effected. A board was placed in the 

 chicken house five or six feet from the ground, and wide enough to admit the number 

 to place themselves tail to tail in a circle. On this they sptnt the night with the other 

 fowls. I have no doubt, however, the habit of sleeping on the ground could readily be 

 changed to that of rcoating on trees or other more secure places ; as I instanced once in 

 a bird reared with some chickens, which, after being instructed a few times, readily took 

 the perch by the side of his foster-mother, and seemed as much at home as any of the 

 chickens which were now old enough to roost. 



Birds from the field, under certain circumstances, as fear or want of suitable selection 

 of ground, will roost singly upon trees and other elevated places. This I have seen 

 <]uite often in the case of the overflow of lands by high water, and when bewildered in 

 an attempt to adopt city life. Every year, in the full season, large coveys come into 

 this city and are heard constantly whistling for each other, and may be seen running 

 about the streets. These birds often roost oa the house tops, the tops of chimneys, and 

 on the branches of the street trees, one, and sometimes two in a place, and continue the 

 prastioe for weeks,- or until they become destroyed or leave for the country. As they 

 always get together on foot, it becomes almost impossible, when once scattered in a city, 

 to find each other, and so long as one of their number remains absent and makes it 

 known by the signal whistle, the other birds will remain and endeavor to make them- 

 selves heard ; and in doing this they again become dispersed and divided by houses, 

 walls and fences ; and thus day after day is occupied iu these fruitless eflbrta to collect 

 the family, each day lessening their nnmber, until few, if any, reach the field again. 



The social relations existing between Bob-white and the barn'-yard fowl are generally 

 very friendly. I have frequently found hens' eggs atd Quails' eggs in one nest ; and have 

 known a common hen and a QaaU to deposit daily, each an egg in the same nest ; until 

 the complement was foil, at the end of whieh time the Quail submitted the incubation 

 to her larger coaapanion. The disposition of these birds is only moderately good. They 

 are always amiable and gentle in their family relations, and rarely domineering or vin- 

 dictive towards their friendly associataa. They are cowardly ta wards their enemies ; and 

 whUe io coveys, seem to maintain a sense of eecurity by keeping close together ; and so 

 strong IB thJB feeling, that wounded birds, unable to fl.y, will follow after their oom- 

 panioBs on foot, aa long as able to go. When paired, the two are constant companions, 

 ever watchful over the welfare of each other. They share equally the duties and respon- 

 sibilities of wedded life, and from the birth of the first ofEspriog to their settlement in 

 the world, as faithful father and mother, are unoeasing protectors and providers for the 

 family. This extrsoidviiury strength of attachment, and exhibition of ^atoral affection. 



