THE AUK: 
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
April, 1903. No. 2 
THE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF BOB-WHITE. 
BY JOHN N. CLARK . 1 
To THE man who keeps his eyes and ears open, there are new 
sources of entertainment and instruction bursting upon his vision 
at every turn. I hey often come as surprises — for Nature ever 
prolific in resource, offers a new program at every interview. 
Such were the thoughts that suggested themselves as I took the 
pen to recount a little episode that afforded much entertainment 
for me the past summer. 
I frequently observed during later June and early July a stately 
Bob-white stationed on a post near at hand where at early morn 
and fading day he called out with great energy his weather prog- 
nostications with little favor to the haymakers, as if he were a 
trusted employee of the Weather Bureau. 
By the roadside in that immediate vicinity grow numerous 
patches of what I call scrub. There are hazel scrub, wild rose 
scrub, and blueberry and dwarf willow scrubs — annually mowed 
Mowing does not destroy or discourage them, but puts them in the 
form so popular in Japan when practiced upon trees kept in plant 
form by trimming and training. These scrubs, cut to stubs from 
six to ten inches, renew their annual leaf and vigor and afford nice 
1 [Ihis article has a sad interest, owing to the death of the author since the 
manuscript was received for publication. See ‘ Notes and News ’ in the pres 
ent number of ‘ The Auk Edd.] P 
