GamE-BIRDS AND PIGEONS. 187 
CHAPTER IX. 
GAME-BIRDS AND PIGEONS. 
BY ‘““Game-birds” is meant those that are popu- 
larly known as Grouse, Quails, Partridges, Ptar- 
migan, and the Wild Turkey. Of these so-called 
gallinaceous birds we have a considerable variety, 
and but for the greed of sportsmen, want of con- 
science of pot-shooters, and asininity of legislators, 
would have scattered over the whole country a vastly 
greater number of individual birds; for we hear the 
cry of late from every quarter, “ Game is getting 
scarce.” Nevertheless, everybody chases the last 
bird to death, saying, “If I didn’t, some one else 
would.” 
In the extreme South and Southwest there are a 
few doves and pigeons peculiar to those regions; but 
in the United States generally there are but the Wild 
Pigeon and Turtle-dove, and the former is pretty 
nearly blotted out of existence. 
The common Eastern Quail, or Bob-white, is to all 
a familiar bird. It probably has not a single habit 
not thoroughly well known. It is a resident bird, 
except when nesting, gregarious, and if not harassed 
beyond all endurance would be quite tame and 
familiar. It appears to know that at certain seasons 
it is free from molestation, and comes out into the 
