Land Birds of the 

 Eastern United States 



GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. ORDER GALLING 



AMERICAN QUAIL. FAMILY ODONTOPHO- 

 RID.E 



BOB-WHITE 



Colinus virginianus virginianus. Case I, Figs. I, 2 



The black and white markings of the male are respectively 

 buff and brown in the female. In flight the Bob-white, or Quail, 

 suggests a Meadowlark, but the tail is without white feathers. 

 L. 10. 



Range. Eastern United States north to Minnesota and Maine 

 south to the Gulf. A Permanent Resident. Severe winters and 

 much, shooting have made it rare in the more northern parts of 

 its range. 



Washington, common P. R. Ossining, common P. R. Cam- 

 bridge, P. R. N. Ohio, not common P. R. Glen Ellyn, rare P. R, 

 SE. Minn., common P. R. 



Except when nesting Bob-whites live in flocks or 

 "coveys" usually composed of the members of one family. 

 Their song, heard in spring and summer, is the clear, 

 ringing two- or three-noted whistle which gives them 

 their common name. Their fall and winter notes, which 

 sportsmen term "scatter calls" are signals by which the 

 members of a flock keep within speaking distance of one 

 another. "Where are you?" "Where are you?" they 

 seem to say. As with other protectively colored, ground- 

 inhabiting birds, Bob-whites do not take wing until one 



