DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 
The nest and eggs can not be mistaken for that of any other species. 
REMARKS : 
The nest figured in the plate was taken the fifteenth of June, 1880. It was built near the remain- 
ing root of an old stump surrounded with grass and a few stalks of clover. The eggs were completely 
concealed by the covering which the grass afforded, but in making the drawing this protection was sep- 
arated sufficiently to show the nest and eggs. The nest is composed of dead grass, dry leaves, and 
weed-stems. 
At the time of the first settlements in Ohio, it is quite probable Quail were scarce, and found only 
in certain localities. The extensive and dense forests, covering almost the entire territory, made it 
ill adapted to their nature ; and those which were enabled to perpetuate their existence occupied only 
some of the limited open tracts of land then found here and there over the country. In support of this 
conclusion I will here refer to the facts contained in a statement made by my great-grand-father who 
emigrated to this State directly after peace with the Indians was effected by General Wayne under 
Washington, and, in the Spring of 1798, located with his family on what was then named and since known 
as the “ High-bank Prairie,” near Chillicothe. In this seemingly favorable locality he resided several 
years before the voice of the Quail was heard ; so long that lie abandoned the anticipation of Quail- 
shooting, and questioned if it would ever be recognized as a sport in Ohio. One day in early summer 
he thought he heard a well-recognized though suppressed sound, “ Bob-White .” Somewhat doubting the 
sense of hearing, he immediately made observations and procured additional evidence, that of sight. 
Yes, he actually heard and saw the bird. Elated with the good news he proceeded to the cabin and told 
his discovery with so much excitement and enthusiasm that it created a laugh at his expense. He 
excused his manner, however, by saying it was sufficient to excite any one, to know that a highly 
esteemed and familiar friend had found his way through such an interminable wilderness, and announced 
his arrival in that modest but meaning way. 
Bob- White is really a bird of civilization. He flourishes best near the abodes of man. The cultiva- 
tion of the soil and settlement of the country increase their number seemingly by lessening their 
dangers, and giving an easy mode of subsisting. With no friend but agriculture, with no protection but 
fields of grass and grain, they become abundant in spite of the Hawk, the Owl, the Crow, the Blue Jay, 
the Opossum, the Raccoon, the Polecat, the Weasel, the Fox, the Norway Rat, the Snake, the Dog, the Cat, 
the mowing machine, the sportsman, the trapper, the heavy summer rains, and the winter snows, each 
of which has an influence in circumscribing then- wonderful capacity for increase. 
The Quail regards man as his friend, although he is not a stranger to man’s treachery and cruelty. 
If not for the ill treatment so often received from those whose friendship he courts, he would soon 
become quite as domestic as the barn-yard poultry. In fact, he frequently presses his claims so perse- 
veringly in. this line, that they are received and recognized. Some years since, early in May, I dis- 
covered a nest being built by a pair of these birds, in a lot only a short distance from the house. Each 
day, for sevei’al days, they added a little to the appearance of the structure, and when completed, an egg 
was deposited daily until nineteen filled the nest, and incubation began. Up to this time I had been 
extremely cautious in my observations, especially those approaching familiarity. But now I made myself 
quite at home, going to the nest frequently every day, until the birds became so accustomed to my 
presence, and so well assured that in this confidence there was no danger, that the female would even 
permit my hand under her and to remove an egg, without being disturbed or getting off the nest. A 
week before the expected arrival of the little ones, I made a tight fence of boards, about two feet high, 
inclosing a space twelve feet square. After hatching, the family remained in the inclosure and were fed 
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