The BiEds of El Paso County, Colorado 491 



such a conclusion. A flock from which many may be killcl 

 at a single shot represents birds bred over an extended area. 



The name of "plover" places this species in the class ,of 

 game birds which may be shot in the open season. As a game 

 bird in spring it compares with the horned lark but has some 

 advantage as to size, and presents an attractive mark to the 

 amateur shooter. 



Colinus virginianus virginianus. Bob-white. 



Not a native species but has been introduced at various 

 times. General Palmer turned out a number from Glen 

 Eyrie, bringing them from Kansas and Oklahoma. Mr. Clark 

 Mellen writes us that a good many broods were seen about 

 the place the first year but only a few the second. It is diffi- 

 cult to say what became of them, they may have died from 

 lack of food, exposure in winter, or been killed by lawless 

 hunters. E, A. Touzalin liberated some about 25 years ago 

 al his ranch on Cheyenne Mountain, and these seem to have 

 scattered about considerably. Ten years ago there were some 

 on the Bates ranch south of Colorado Springs, on Fountain 

 Creek, also about IS years ago there were some on a ranch 

 farther south, about 45 being seen there one day in January, 

 1898. One was heard near Buttes, July 9, 1907, and one May 

 16, 1908, and there are still a few in that region. These are 

 descended from birds liberated about 1888 by R. R. Taylor of 

 Colorado Springs. A pair of Texan Bob-whites from Texas 

 were liberated near, Colorado Springs in 1898 by George 

 Bonbright, but it is not believed that they survived. 



There is not a great deal of cover for the birds and it is 

 easy for hunters who have no regard for the law to kill them. 

 Horned Owls are also partly responsible for their extermina- 

 tion. Dead Quail have been found in Owls' nests on Fountain 

 Creek. 



Bob-whites are plentiful in western Kansas and in recent 

 years have spread westward over the Colorado line at several 

 points where there is sufficient cover in this State to afford 



