The Quail 85 



It was a clean kill. With proud triumph she 

 informed her lord and master that I was the best 

 judge of dogs that had ever lived. 



Doc's eyes twinkled mischievously as he 

 drawled : " Won't you ever learn to weigh his 

 words? Joss can hang her — and he knows it." 



Doc was right. 



THE FLORIDA BOB-WHITE 

 (C. v.floridanus) 



This bird almost might be termed the bantam 

 of the common Bob-white. Scientific authori- 

 ties have agreed to consider it a separate race ; 

 but to the eye of the average sportsman it is 

 merely an undersized individual of the northern 

 species. The important differences are the 

 smaller size and the darker color throughout. 

 The race is confined to Florida, and may be 

 found upon all suitable ground within the bor- 

 ders of the state. Its habits differ but slightly, 

 if at all, from those of C. virginianus. Its favor- 

 ite haunts are cultivated grounds bordered by the 

 natural cover. The mating season extends, ac- 

 cording to locality, from about the end of Feb- 

 ruary to April. The nest is carefully concealed, 

 perhaps under a palmetto, or in rank grass, or 

 weeds. The eggs closely resemble those of the 

 northern bird, but the average number is consid- 

 erably less, it being usually between ten and 



