QUAIL SHOOTING. 177 



territory for their dwelling place absolutely boundless, 

 where they can wander at their own sweet will. 



The selection of her nesting-place is made with great 

 caution and care. She finds some quiet, secluded spot 

 hidden from the eyes of man and prying boys, trying if 

 possible, to keep her tiny nest and little ones hid from 

 the cruel hawk, the prowling skunk, or the night-wan- 

 dering and ghostly owl. The deep recesses of an old 

 fence, where black-berry bushes twine affectionately 

 around the decayed rails, or boards, are to her liking ; 

 bunches, of grass, the warm sheltered and protecting 

 hedges, offer to her inviting places to build her nest, 

 to lay her eggs, to incubate, and to rear her young. 

 This she is ready to do the latter part of May, at times 

 earlier, depending on the season — instinct teaches her 

 the .proper time. 



The eggs laid vary in number from one dozen to two 

 dozen. The period of hatching is about four weeks. 

 When the little ones are brought into the world they 

 are filled with life, and are ready to start out on a voy- 

 age of discovery. About the first thing they do is ta 

 engage in a foot race, and this they do to the great de- 

 spair of their fond mother, who with tender entreaty 

 and a great deal of running manages to keep them to- 

 gether. Happy family are they ; proud mother is she. 

 The father bears his honors graciously. I have often 

 seen this little family when hunting prairie-chicken. 

 The dog would come to a point on a bunch of grass ; 

 the cock would fly away ; then the mother, loath to 

 leave her young and tender brood to the mercies of an 

 enemy, would fly a few yards, and with fluttering 

 wings alight and hobble away; would feign serious in- 

 jury that she might divert the attention of the hunter 



