QUAIL. 449 
by having the throat buff instead of white, less black about the fore-parts, and general 
colors less intense, rather smaller than the male. Length, 9-10; wing, 44-5; tail, 23-3. _ 
Habitat, Eastern United States. North to Massachusetts and slightly beyond; 
Canada West; Minnesota. West to high central plains. Up the Missouri to White 
River. Salt Lake Valley, introduced. Var. tevanusin Texas. Var. floridanus in Florida, 
and very similar specimens up the Mississippi Valley to Southern Illinois. Introduced 
in Bahamas and Santa Cruz. 
Abundant resident. Breeds. This well-known bird is an exception to 
all others of the order, in that it was probably absent or at least confined 
to but few localities in the State at the time of its first settlement, and 
has steadily increased in numbers as the forest has been cleared away, 
while others have diminished. It is practically sedentary in its habits, 
yet during the fall months often changes its locality by more or less 
complete migrations. During this period the birds sometimes appear in 
considerable numbers in unexpected places, not unfrequently in the 
streets, on the houses and in gardens of large cities. 
The following account from the beautiful work of Misses Jones and 
Shulze, from the pen of Dr. Howard E. Jones, an enthusiastic sportsman 
and naturalist, presents 0 many interesting and EnNporra nt facts that I 
reproduce it nearly entire: 
‘The Bob-White is a permanent resident of Ohic. The greater portion of the year 
the old birds with the family increase are found in coveys. In early spring this general 
attachment is broken up by pairing, each pair selecting a locality where they remain 
during the breeding season. When mating has taken place it is known by the 
demonstrations of the male, who gives the whole neighborhood due notice of his domes- 
tic intentions by frequent repetitions at short intervals, of his cheerful and well-known 
notes—Bob-iVhite, Bob- White. Nesting begins as early as the first of May. Two and 
sometimes three broods are raised during the season. Corners of worm-fences and 
stumps, in garden patches or in cultivated fields, having tall grass or weeds about them 
are favorite sites for the nest. Sometimes it is.placed in a field with no protection ex- 
cept the growing grain or grass. Rarely it is built in thick woods, in a tussock, or 
beside a stump or logs. But wherever the locality, either highland or lowland, culti- 
vated or wild, a spos well covered by a luxuriant growth of grass is usually selected 
Though at times concealment as a means of security seems to be abandoned, and the 
nest is placed under the protection of man. I have frequently seen nests built within a 
few yards of a farm house, in the short blue-grass near a much frequented path; and 
only a few seasons since, I found a nest alongside a tie on sandy ground within five feet 
of a railroad track. f 
The nest, which always rests upon the ground, is placed in a slight concavity, either 
natural or prepared by the mother-bird. Sometimes the materials are so arranged 
with the surrounding tufta of grass as to form an arched covering having a side opening, 
but generally it is quite free from any attempt at artificial concealment, 
The materials of construction consist of dry grass, straws, leaves, weed stems, or like 
substances found in the immediate vicinity. The average diameter of the structure is 
about four and one-half inches. 
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