224 
FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 
weather, in those and the preceding months, which addles the 
eggs, and destroys the early bevy. This is, however, but a par¬ 
tial evil,—as the Quail rears a second brood, and, as I have be¬ 
fore observed, sometimes a third; so that in this case the num¬ 
ber of birds for the season is diminished, without the tribe being 
endangered. 
The open winters, which have prevailed latterly, have been 
exceedingly favorable to the increase of this beautiful and pro 
lific little bird. Never, perhaps, have they been more abundant 
than they were last autumn; and as the winter has been in all 
respects the most propitious ever known, there having been 
scarcely a single fall of snow of any magnitude, and no crust in 
any instance to molest them, there is every likelihood of a fine 
stock next autumn being raised throughout the Middle States. 
A little judicious legislation—a little energy combined with 
careful consideration of the subject, and mutual concession on 
the part of true sportsmen, might possibly now preserve this 
very interesting native American from the total extinction that 
threatens him. 
It is quite clear, that neither idle good wishes, nor faineant 
despair, will do so. One bad winter, and the present state of 
things, will settle the question for us,—but the wrong way ! 
Unlike the young broods of the Woodcock, which are mute, 
save the twitter with which they rise, the bevies of Quail appear 
to be attached to each other by tender affection. If dispersed 
by accidental causes, either in pursuit of their food, or from 
being flushed by some casual intruder, so soon as their first 
alarm has passed over, they begin calling to each other with a 
small plaintive note, quite different from the amorous whistle 
of the male bird, and from their merry daybreak cheeping; and, 
each one running toward the sound, and repeating it at inter¬ 
vals, they soon collect themselves together into one happy little 
family, the circle of which remains unbroken, until the next 
spring, with the genial weather, brings matrimonial ardors, pair¬ 
ing and courtship, and the hope of future bevies. 
If, however, the ruthless sportsman has been among them. 
