QUAIL, OR PARTRIDGE. 415 
rarely frequent the forest, and are most numerous in tle vicinity of 
well-cultivated plantations, where grain is in plenty. They, however, 
occasionally seek shelter in the woods, perching on the branches, or 
secreting themselves among tic brushwood; but are found most usu- 
‘ally in open fields, or along fences sheltered by thickets of briers. 
Where they are not too much persecuted by the sportsmen, they be- 
come almost half domesticated; approach the barn, particularly in 
winter, and sometimes, in that severe season, mix with the poultry to 
glean up a subsistence. They remain with us the whole year, and 
often suffer extremely by long, hard winters and deep snows. At 
such times, the arts of man combine with the inclemency of the season 
for their destruction. To the ravages of the gun are added others of 
a more insidious kind; traps are placed on alinost every plantation, in 
such places as they are known to frequent. These are formed of lath, 
or thinly-split sticks, somewhat in the shape of an,obtuse cone, laced 
together with cord, having a small hole at top, with a sliding lid, to take 
out the game by. This is supported by the common figure 4 trigger ; 
and grain is scattered below and leading to the place. By this con- 
trivance, ten or fifteen have sometimes been taken at a time.* These 
are sometimes brought alive to market, and occasionally bought up by 
sportsmen, who, if the season be very severe, sometimes preserve and 
feed them till spring, when they are humanely turned out to their na- 
tive fields again, to be put to death at some future time secundem ar- 
tem. Between the months of August and March, great numbers of 
these birds are brought to the market of Philadelphia, where they are 
sold at from twelve to eighteen cents a piece. : 
The Quail begins to build early in May. The nest is made on the 
ground, usually at the bottom of a thick tuft of grass, that shelters 
and conceals it. The materials are leaves and fine dry grass in con- 
siderable quantity. It is well covered above, and an opening left on 
* In addition to the common traps now deseribed, Mr. Audubon mentions that 
they. are-also netted, or driven, as it is called. He thus describes the method of 
rlvingi—— vee 
od uses of persons on horseback, provided with a net, set out in search of Par- 
tridges, riding along the fences or brier thickets which the birds are known to frequent. 
One or two of the party whistle in imitation of the call note, and, as Partridges-are 
plentiful, the call is soon answered by a covey, when the sportsmen immediately 
proceed to ascertain their position and number, seldom considering it worth while 
to set the net when there are only a few birds. They approach in a careless man- 
ner, talking and poet ee as if merely passing by. hen the birds are discovered, 
one of the party gallops off in a circuitous manner, gets in advance of the rest bya 
hundred yards or more, according to the situation of the birds and their disposition 
to run, while the rest of the sportsmen move about on their horses, talking to each 
other, but at the same time watching every motion of the Partridges. The person 
in advance, being provided with the net, diemesaie, and at once falls to placing it, 
so that his companions can easily drive the Partridges into it. No sooner is the 
machine ready, than the net-bearer remounts, and rejoins the party. The sports- 
men separate toa short distance, and follow the Paudilees, talkin , whistling. 
clapping their hands, or knocking the fence-rails. The birds move ant great gen- 
tleness, following each other, and are ‘kept in the right direction by the sportsmen. 
The leading bird approaches and enters the mouth of the net; the others follow in 
succession, when the net-bearer leaps from his horse, runs up and secures the en- 
trance, and soon despatches the birds. In this manner, fifteen or wenty Partridges 
sae caught at one driving, and sometimes many hundreds in the c+ urse of the day.” 7 
—~—Ep. ? 
