140 Birds of Colorado 
derives its name from its call-note. This is usually 
uttered by the male when perched on a rail-fence or a 
low limb of a tree. 
The coveys very often roost in the open on the ground 
in a solid circle with heads out and tails in, and like all 
Gallinaceous birds dust themselves in little pits to get 
rid of vermin. The food consists of about 80 per 
cent. of vegetable matter, 15 per cent. of animal 
matter ; the latter, chiefly eaten in the summer and fed 
to the young birds, consists mostly of beetles and grass- 
hoppers ; the former of seeds and weeds. They are there- 
fore most valuable birds to the farmer, and should be 
encouraged and protected in every way. They are 
also a very valuable sporting bird, lying well to a dog 
and rising when flushed with dash and vigour, besides 
being exceedingly well-flavoured and wholesome for 
eating purposes. 
The nest is placed on the ground ; it is a simple affair 
consisting of a saucer-shaped excavation, sheltered by 
a patch of weeds or grass, and lined with a little grass 
or small twigs. The number of eggs is large, usually 
12 to 15, and as many as forty-two eggs have been found 
in one nest, though these are probably the production 
of several hens, They are pyriform and pointed in shape, 
and white in colour, and average 1:25 x 1:0. 
Dille gives June 5th as the average date for a clutch 
of fresh eggs, while Gale states May 20th to June 10 
is the usual time. A clutch of fifteen eggs taken by 
I. C. Hall near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado 
Museum, were obtained as late as July 24th, and are 
described as bemg unincubated. But the Bob-white 
varies very much in this respect, and eggs have been 
taken in every month in the year, except December, 
in various parts of the United States. 
