QUAIL SHOOTING. 181 



them for two or three years. They come to us every 

 winter, stay till spring ; then, when the snow is gone, 

 and the weather is mild, they leave us, but always return. 

 In summer they breed and live in the orchard. We 

 frequently see the little ones running around with their 

 parents. But we don't disturb them; they seem to 

 know us, and have so much confidence in us that we 

 couldn't have the heart to injure them. It would cause 

 much sorrow to the children and myself were these birds 

 destroyed or driven away." 



At such times 1 wish I hadn't asked the question ; 

 and bidding the kind-hearted lady good day, call my 

 dog, and in deep thought wander aimlessly away. 



In September the birds flock, and are ready about the 

 middle of October to make fine sport. Their call is a 

 familiar one, and I know of nothing similar to it, unless 

 it be to call as if for some truant child, exclaiming plain- 

 tively, " Bob White ! Bob White ! " This is the call 

 used by them early in the spring and through the summer. 

 The male does this, while idly sitting on a fence post, or 

 the lower limb of some scraggy tree, his partner at tliis 

 time being fully occupied on her nest, always within 

 hearing, and usually in sight of him. 



Later in the season their call changes, and I have 

 never heard at this time of the year any utterances 

 from their throats that could be construed or twisted 

 into "Bob White." Their call at this time being 

 " Wah-ee-he ! " " Wah-ee-he ! " 



When frightened at either man or dog, they utter a 

 sharp, cluttering sound, pieparatorj'^ to flight, — not 

 always, but at times. Look out for them then, for they 

 will suddenly spring up, with a whirr and roar, that 

 will rattle any one not possessing the steadiest nerves. 



