THE BOB-WHITE OR QUAIL 



JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 



THE common name given to this bird in the eastern and 

 middle districts of our Union is that of the Quail, but in 

 the western and southern States it is called the Partridge. It 

 is abundantly met with in all parts of the United States, but 

 more especially toward the interior. In the States of Ohio 

 and Kentucky, where these birds are very abundant, they are 

 to be seen in the markets both dead and alive in large 

 quantities. 



This species performs occasional migrations from the 

 northwest to the southeast, usually in the beginning of Octo- 

 ber, and somewhat in the manner of the Wild Turkey. For a 

 few weeks at this season the northwestern shores of the Ohio 

 River are covered with flocks of Quails. They ramble 

 through the woods along the margin of the stream and gener- 

 ally fly across toward evening. Like the Turkeys, many of 

 the Partridges fall into the water while thus attempting to 

 cross, and generally perish, for although they swim sur- 

 prisingly they have not muscular power sufficient to keep up 

 a protracted struggle, although when they have fallen within 

 a few yards of the shore they easily escape being drowned. I 

 have been told by a friend that a person residing in Philadel- 

 phia had a hearty laugh on hearing that I had described the 

 Wild Turkey as swimming for some distance when it had acci- 

 dentally fallen into the water. But almost every species of land 

 bird is capable of swimming on such occasions, and you may 



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