156 BREAKING A BIRD DOG 
the farmers come to realize that they may 
unfailingly count upon the cooperation of 
the sportsmen, whenever their cause is just 
—and you will go a long way toward bring¬ 
ing these two interests together. For re¬ 
member this: We need the farmer. And the 
farmer needs us. Let’s be the fastest friends 
in the world and our troubles will never hap¬ 
pen. Nothing could be finer, nothing more 
natural, than a blending and cementing of 
the friendship between farmers and sports¬ 
men. Then— who knows?—quail may 
some day even cease to be song birds! 
Seriously speaking, quail are not song 
birds. Besides, it is best for quail to be shot 
into—best for the quail themselves. The 
reason for this is, that it breaks up the coveys 
and thus prevents the old cock birds from 
maintaining undaunted sway and gives the 
young cocks a chance. This is good for the 
quail, in that it makes hardier, stronger, 
bigger, better birds—birds that are health¬ 
ier and more able to take care of them¬ 
selves. 
This is well, particularly since it must be 
remembered that hawks, foxes, cats and se- 
