The Quail, Bobwhite Birds 
leaves, and never wink an eyelid or stir a foot until 
the danger is past. 
The family remains together until the following 
spring, and it is very delightful to see them get 
ready for bed They gather in a little circle, each 
one facing outward, so as to be able to detect the 
enemy in any direction; and when the enemy is 
upon them, each springs in the direction towards 
which it is faced, and flies off swiftly. Thus it is 
that the enemy, however cunning, rarely gets more 
than one of the family at a time. 
The quail have a hard time in the winters, and 
usually spring finds but few of the family left in our 
northern countries. Their enemies are, especially, 
cats, dogs, the Cooper and the Sharp-shinned hawk, 
and the Goshawk. 
CARE 
If in a city or town, the quail may be kept in a 
large wire coop, which should include a convenient 
drinking and bathing place. If an attempt is made 
to establish the quail on a farm, we must first get 
rid of all stray cats; we must provide a field in 
which there are clumps of sumac, wild-rose, black- 
berry bushes, or young pine woods. The ideal 
shelter, with food combined, is made by laying down 
upon the ground for several yards square, first a pile 
of weeds and chaff, or hayloft sweepings; over this 
should be placed a layer of stiff brush; and over all 
should be piled a layer of coarse weeds, cut before 
the seeds drop; these may be rag-weed, pig-weed, 
dock, wild-sunflower and the like. The brush should 
be left exposed on the south side. Fresh supplies 
of screenings should be thrown into the brush at 
frequent intervals during the winter. 
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