214 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
cold weather approaches, and the ground becomes frozen, 
quails frequent the more open stubble-fields in search of 
food. If they are flushed then they rush for the tall 
grass or bushes, and lie so well that a whole bevy may 
be killed one by one, if a person has a good dog. Old 
birds are so cunning, however, that they may not await 
the approach of even the steadiest setter, but fly to the 
thickets or woods, if any are near, on catching sight of 
him. 
The bevies leave the high grounds in October and 
march or fly to the banks of streams or lakes, but they 
return in November, which is called the ‘‘running sea- 
son,” on account of their wildness, and the fact that they 
will not lie before a dog, but run ahead of him as fast as 
they can, and seek shelter in bushes and thickets where 
it is impossible for him to follow them. They may be 
found in grain-fields up to eleven o’clock in clear, frosty 
weather, but after that hour they resort to the banks of 
streams and sloughs, and lie on the sunry side of fallen logs 
and preen themselves. They go to the stubble again in 
the evening, and when they have dined they rise suddenly 
in the air and drop in a neighboring field, taking excel- 
lent care not to run about much, for fear of leaving a 
trail for their foes to follow. They generally sleep in a 
circle, with their heads turned outwards, so as to better 
guard against a surprise; and if they are not disturbed 
they frequent the same roosting-place for several nights. 
in succession. Although they have many enemies, the 
worst is the hawk, which skims noiselessly over the grass 
or darts down upon them suddenly, from a high altitude. 
If they espy this deadly foe m the winter, when the 
ground is covered with snow, they dash into the fleecy 
shelter and soon make a hole large enough to protect them- 
selves from all danger. The best time for quail shooting 
is November and December, when the frosts have wilted 
the corn-stalks and deprived the bushes of their thick cov- 
