The Bob-white or Quail T] 



easily satisfy yourself as to the accuracy of my statement by 

 throwing a Turkey, a common fowl, or any other bird into the 

 water. As soon as the Quails have crossed the principal 

 streams in their way, they disperse in flocks over the country 

 and return to their ordinary mode of life. 



The flight of these birds is generally performed at a short 

 distance from the ground. It is rapid and is continued by 

 numerous quick flaps of the wings for a certain distance, after 

 which the bird sails until about to alight when again it flaps 

 its wings - to break its descent. . When chased by dogs or 

 startled by any other enemy they fly to the middle branches 

 of trees of ordinary size, where they remain until danger is 

 over. They walk with ease on the branches. If they perceive 

 that they are observed, they raise the feathers of their head, 

 emit a low note and fly off either to some higher branch of 

 the same tree or to another tree at a distance. When these 

 birds rise on wing of their own accord the whole flock takes 

 the same course, but when "put up" (in the sportsman's 

 phrase) they disperse; after alighting, call to each other, and 

 soon after unite, each running or flying toward the well- 

 known cry of the patriarch of the covey. During deep and 

 continued snows they often remain on the branches of trees 

 for hours at a time. 



The usual cry of this species is a clear whistle, composed 

 of three notes; the first and last nearly equal in length, the 

 latter less loud than the first, but more so than the interme- 

 diate one. When an enemy is perceived they immediately 

 utter a lisping note, frequently repeated, and run off with their 

 tails spread, their crests erected and their wings drooping, 

 toward the shelter of some thicket or the top of a fallen tree. 

 At other times, when one of the flock has accidentally strayed 

 to a distance from its companions it utters two notes louder 



