16 BOBWHITE AND OTHER QUAILS OF UNITED STATJ5S. 



of the bobwhite and the fact that the market hunter is a bird extermi- 

 nator, profiting at the landowner's expense, the better will be his 

 chance of an income from his crop of quail. 



BOBWHITE AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD. 



Perhaps no game is more generally known and liked than quail. 

 The flesh of the bobwhite is juicy, tender, delicately flavored, easily 

 digested, and nutritious. It is well adapted to the needs of invalids. 

 To the farmer's table, where fresh meat is often not obtainable, this 

 bird furnishes a welcome supply. No game is so much sought for in 

 market, and countless numbers are sold every year. The writer knows 

 of a single dealer in Washington who in 1902 sold 100,000 quail. 

 Yet the supply is far short of the demand, and the price is constantly 

 rising. In connection with the present price, which is $3 to $5 a 

 dozen, it is interesting to recall Audubon's statement that in 1810 

 these birds could be bought for 12 cents a dozen and in 1831 for 50 

 cents." Then they were on the tables of rich and poor alike. 



BOBWHITE AS AN OBJECT OF SPORT. 



Edwyn Sandys says of the bobwhite : "He truly is the king of his 

 race; and not alone that, for, in the opinion of hosts of enthusiastic 

 sportsmen, he is the best bird that flies." The well-known author 

 T. S. Van Dyke says : " Dear little Bob White has brought more rest 

 to the business-wearied soul, more new life to tired humanity than 

 nearly all other American game combined." The pursuit of many 

 kinds of game is possible only in the distant wilderness, where travel- 

 ing is difficult and the exposure incident to the sport may be danger- 

 ous to health; but the pursuit of the bobwhite belongs to open, 

 accessible country, and is not too severe for men accustomed to a 

 sedentary life. To thousands of such men quail hunting is the yearly 

 means of restoration, and results in a direct benefit to the community, 

 though one not readily computed in money value. At a conservative 

 estimate, between 300,000 and 400,000 sportsmen go out from cities 

 every fall to hunt bobwhite, which means a large expenditure of 

 money, much of which goes to farmers who hold shooting land. Such 

 revenue is timely, for it comes when farm work yields small returns 

 and employment is welcome. Where nonresident licenses are required, 

 with fee of from $5 to $25, the State also derives a direct income from 

 the sport. 



The bobwhite deservedly stands at the head of American game 

 birds, because it lies so well to the dog, and when flushed springs 

 from the earth like an arrow, demanding a quick eye and a trained 



o Ornith. Biog., I, p. 392, 1831, 



