224 Life and Immortality. 
which is immediately laid, and which is followed by one on 
each consecutive day, until seven or eight have been 
deposited. As many as thirty eggs are sometimes found in 
a single nest, which is due to the polygamy of the male. 
Two, and often three and four females, are taken by a male, 
and two have been known to occupy simultaneously the 
same nest. 
When a pair of birds has established itself in a locality 
from the first, and has been successful in rearing a family of 
young during the ensuing spring, if the females are in the 
majority the unprovided ones still continue, as a general 
thing, to linger with the parents after their more specially 
favored companions have mated and moved elsewhere. This 
is particularly noticeable in a new locality where the covey 
consists entirely of members of a single family. In cases 
where several families congregate in the fall, the chances are 
greatly in favor of monogamy. Small flocks are more 
decidedly polygamous than larger ones. We have never 
observed the converse—that is, more than one male to a 
female—but where several pairs are found in the same field, 
at slight distances from each other, there is sometimes a 
noticeable tendency to associate. 
The eggs of the Quail are crystal white, sometimes slightly 
tinged with yellow, and pyriform in shape. Eighteen days 
are required for their hatching. Where the father is not 
fortunate enough to possess a harem, a part of the work 
devolves upon him, while the mother seeks food and recrea- 
tion; but where there are several females, the work is 
divided very amicably among them, each sitting about half 
a day at a stretch, then calling her relief with a low note, if 
there be only two, the male taking no part in the labor of 
incubation whatever. Should the family be larger, two 
females will sit side by side on the eggs, there being too 
many in number for one breast to cover. Meanwhile the 
husband remains close by, chirping encouragement in a low 
tone, and betimes making the field vocal with his loud, clear 
