310 
PEUDIX VIRGINIANA. 
tlie gun, are added others of a more insidious kind : 
traps are placed on almost every plantation, in such 
places as they are known to frequent. These are 
formed of lath, or thinly split sticks, somewhat in the 
shape of an obtuse cone, laced together with cordj 
having a small hole at top, with a sliding lid, to take 
out the game by. This is supported by the (common 
tigure 4 trigger; and grain is scattered below and 
leading to the place. By this contrivance, ten or fifteen 
have sometimes been taken at a time. These are some" 
times brought alive to market, and occasionally bough* 
up by sportsmen, u-ho, if the season be very severe? 
sometimes preserve and feed them till spring, whe» 
they are humanely turned out to their native fields 
again, to be put to death at some future time secundWK 
arteni. Between the months of August and March, 
great numbers of these birds are brought to the mark«* 
ot Philadelphia, where they are sold from twelve tn 
eighteen cents a-piece. 
The quail begins to build early in May. The nest 
made on the ground, usually at the bottom of a thick 
tuft of grass, that shelters and conceals it. The material 
are leaves and fine dry grass in considerable quantity- 
It is well covered above, and an opening left on ou® 
side for entrance. The female lays from fifteen to 
twenty-four eggs, of a pure white, without any spots- 
The time of incubation has been stated to me, by varioi*** 
persons, at four weeks, when the eggs were placed 
under the domestic hen. The young leave the nest as 
soon as they are freed from the shell, and are conducted 
about in search ot food bjr the female ; are guided b) 
her voice, which at tb.at time resembles the twittering 
oi young chickens, and sheltert-d by her wings, in tb** 
same manner as those of the domestic fou l ; but wjtk 
all that secrecy and precaution for their safety, whick 
their helplessness and greater danger require. In tin-' 
situation, should the little timid family be iinexpectedl.V' 
surprised, the utmost alarm and consternation instant!.'' 
prevail. The mother throws herself in the p»*''. 
fluttering along, and beating the ground with he*’ 
