THE BOB-WHITE. 



439 



listen attentively to it to be warned of rain. I have spent a good many hours 

 listening to calling birds, some in the distance, some near at hand. While 

 the distant birds often, perhaps usually, seemed to give but two syllables, those 

 near at hand always gave three, but the first was often so softly given that 

 it would not be audible beyond a few rods. 



As soon as the young birds are able to leave the nest they are taught to 

 shun danger in various ways, first by "freezing" — trusting to their protective 

 colors for 

 safety. The 

 assembly is 

 a means of 

 mutual pro- 

 tection, and 

 the call for 

 assembly is 

 given by the 

 old birds. In 

 fact, the 

 family re- 

 mains to- 

 gether dur- 

 i n g the 

 whole win- 

 ter, and the 

 young are 

 constantly 

 being taught, 

 by example, 

 how to avoid 

 danger, and 

 how to live 

 the best. The 

 signal for 

 •danger t o 

 the whole 

 feeding, flock 

 is a low 

 chuckling 

 rattle, which 

 mightbemis- 



taken lOl Taken in Jefferson Drawing by Robt. J. Sim. 



field mice. "the charmed circle— no more room." 



