310 
PERDIX VIRGINIANA. 
the 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 cord, 
having a small hole at top, with a sliding lid, to take 
out the game by. This is supported by the common 
figure 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 bought 
up by sportsmen, who, if the season be very severe, 
sometimes preserve and feed them till spring, when 
they are humanely turned out to their native fields 
again, to be put to death at some future time secundum 
artem. Between the months of August and March, 
great numbers of these birds are brought to the market 
of Philadelphia, where they are sold from twelve to 
eighteen cents a-piece. 
The quail begins to build early in May. The nest is 
made on the ground, usually at the bottom of a thick 
tuft of grass, that shelters and conceals it. The materials 
are leaves and fine dry grass in considerable quantity. 
It is well covered above, and an opening left on one 
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 various 
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 of food by the female ; are guided by 
her voice, which at that time resembles the twittering 
of young chickens, and sheltered by her wings, in the 
same manner as those of the domestic fowl ; but with 
ail that secrecy and precaution for their safety, which 
their helplessness and greater danger require. In this 
situation, should the little timid family be unexpectedly 
surprised, the utmost alarm and consternation instantly 
prevail. The mother throws herself in the path, 
fluttering along, and beating the ground with her 
r'L 
j>„ ’ jr * * | i\ ? 
i >rr * * 
i i 
