
HARRY KIRKOVER AND AN ARMFUL OF AMERICAN SETTERS, WHOSE 
ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN BRED BY HIM FOR SIX GENERATIONS 
URING the closed season sports- 
D men as a rule give more thought 
to the life history of the quail 
than they do when afield with dog and 
gun. In fact, their sentimental devo- 
tion to this wonderful game bird is 
manifested usually in a visualization 
after they have analyzed the experi- 
ences and observations of their days in 
the field. When the shooting is at its 
height, when the dogs are pointing and 
the little brown birds are whirring out 
of the wheat fields, apparently, much 
cscapes the mind, but when the plea- 
sures of the day in the open have some- 
what moved into the background, 
thoughts and impressions return with 
irresistible persistence. The saffron 
and tawny fields again unfold and the 
work of the well-schooled pointer and 
setter, as their delicate nostrils work 
out the puzzling vagaries of the scent, 
attains its true significance. 
The proper study of quail entails 
long experience, not within a certain 
circumscribed area, but during the 
open and closed seasons in all sections 
of the country where these great game 
birds exist. In no other manner can 
accurate knowledge be obtained, for 
while the observations in a single state 
or county may teach something of 
their superficial habits, it is not suf- 
ficient to enable the observer to formu- 
late a comprehensive opinion. 
The habits of quail differ greatly in 
_ different sections. Typography and 
feed are, of course, important factors 
in regulating their ways of life. Why 
birds in some sections will avoid the 
cover they frequent in other sections 
only a few miles away, is difficult to 
understand. 
The study of quail has been one of 
my hobbies and for years, when living 
in a quail country, I jotted down notes 
of my findings. My observations, how- 
ever, are only those of a single individ- 
ual and therefore not authoritative. 
Although the quail is the best loved 
of American game birds, there is a de- 
plorable lack of authentic literature on 
their habits, and this, I believe, is one 
of the greatest obstacles that confronts 
the conversationist and sportsman who 
is desirous of protecting them. 
The manner in which modern agri- 
culture is practiced is the most serious 
factor confronting the future of the 
quail in this country. This particularly 
applies to the East and Middle West 
where intensive farming is the order 
and the old rail fence and the weed 
patches are scrupulously removed. In 
parts of the South quail are also show- 
ing an alarming decrease, but only in 
those regions where up-to-date farming 
methods prevail. 
The old-style farmer tolerant of zig- 
zag rail fence is the real friend of the 
quail. While on this subject, it is per- 
missible to call attention of natural- 
ists to the fact that quail are most 
plentiful where weeds and wild grasses 
are riotous. And, furthermore, the 
fact should not be overlooked that de- 
spite all declarations to the contrary, 
quail make not the slightest headway 
against curtailing the growth of weeds. 
No matter how many quail feed in cer- 
tain wheat fields, year after year, in 
just such localities the growth of weeds 
will be found the strongest. It is only 
a case of Nature’s methods of utilizing 
seed-feeding birds, not to keep the 
weeds under control, but rather to thin 
them to a perfect stand. 
Where there are no birds, few weeds 
nor seed-bearing grasses would thrive. 
If you would demonstrate this for your 
own satisfaction, take two small plots 
of ground and cover both with all the 
Bob White 
and 
Bird Dogs 
In Two po eee One 
By SENECA 
weed or grass seeds that the same plot 
in nature would bear. The stand that 
results will be poor. Too thin to thrive! 
Then reverse the experiment by sow- 
ing the weeds sparsely and a splendid 
stand will follow. This may possibly 
be sensed as an argument against with- 
holding the shooting of quail in certain 
localities because of the belief largely 
advertised that without quail, farming 
would end. 
Scientists also credit quail with be- 
ing great destroyers of. insects. This 
is also used as an argument against 
quail shooting for all time to come. To 
be sure quail do levy some toll on in- 
sects. A few years ago I had several 
bevies of quail under observation dur- 
ing a long siege of cinch bugs, cut and 
army worms. For the first few days 
after these insects arrived they sought 

BOB WHITE IS ESSENTIALLY AN UPLAND 
BIRD, PREFERRING THE SUN-SWEPT EX- 
PANSE OF A RAGWEED FIELD TO THE 
COOLNESS OF. THE WOODS; NEVERTHE- 
LESS, \HEVIS) OFTEN SFOUNDSTHERE. | yA 
COVEY WILL SOMETIMES PERCH IN THE 
LIMBS OF TREES ON THE FOREST'S EDGE 
AND THERE REMAIN WITH STOLID _IN- 
DIFFERENCE TO DOG AND MAN—A PER- 
FORMANCE QUITE UNACCOUNTABLE 
Page 12 
