84 THE BIRDS 
many fine coveys. Farmers should scatter a little grain 
for these birds during the winter time, for they are one of 
his best friends in the way of getting away with obnoxious 
seeds. <A better plan still is to leave the edges of the pea 
and soja bean fields standing for cover and winter feed, a 
plan I practice on my own farm. An example of how fast 
they will increase was demonstrated on my own farm, 
where, in five seasons, they increased from one pair of 
purchased birds to six coveys, numbering not less than a 
total of one hundred and twenty-five birds, and each season 
these covevs had had a few shot from them by gunners, 
and some taken by foxes, hawks and cats. They become 
very tame during the breeding season, and if one’s dogs 
are not allowed to run at large during the summer months, 
these birds will frequent and nest in close proximity to 
the house and in the kitchen garden, thus eating many 
injurious seeds and insects, as well as being a source of 
pleasure when listening to their cheery call notes. The 
nest is well protected, and composed of dry grasses, stems, 
pine straw, fine rootlets and dry leaves, placed in a slight 
depression in the ground and well arched over. The eggs 
number from nine to fourteen, and when laid are pure 
white. Size, 1.20x.95. Sometimes as many as twenty- 
eight or thirty eggs are found in a single nest, one layer 
on top of the other; these cases presumably being two 
birds occupying one nest, the result of which is not a 
satisfactory hatch. The eggs become nest stained very 
easily, and to a lavman they would appear as though 
blotched and lined with a faint shade of lavender. Some- 
times they raise two to three broods a season, weather con- 
ditions being favorable. On my place I have had a 
female sitting on a third set of eggs September 15th. 
Thev are non-migratory. Fresh eggs from the middle of 
