IDYLLS OF BIRD LIFE 
Food was to be had in plenty, for a corn field was partly enclosed 
by one of the fences, and the other surrounded an old stubble 
field. Adjacent to this site was a blackberry thicket where the 
fruit was available in season. At intervals the cock bird would 
pause in his work, mount the top rail of the fence, and boldly 
utter his “Bob White! ah. Bob White!” which his demure mate 
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coyly answered by her unobtrusive notes, which, interpretated 
by human methods, sounds like “Here’s me!” 
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Several weeks slipped by; the season was early May when 
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I again visited the nest. It contained fourteen creamy £gg 
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arranged with the utmost care, so as to economize space. On 
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this occasion I saw neither of the birds. They probably were 
feeding; but, as both male and female assist in the incubation, 
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I knew that one of them would be back in a short time r so 1 
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quietly and quickly left the vicinity. 
During the twenty-four days it requires for incubation 
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J- N the male Bob White is much in evidence, strutting about and 
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httering his cheery notes from morning until night. He is very 
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fearless during this time and will endanger his own life trying 
to distract the attention of some enemy from his silent brood- 
ing mate and her nest full of eggs. Mistress Bob White is sel- 
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[ 47 ] 
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