QUAIL. ABL 
showing the least fear at my approach. They soon grew strong enough to get over the 
fence, and I turned them all out. 
[have known a number of instances where these birds, having been reared with the 
farm poultry, became completely domesticated. In one instance, nine beautiful fall- 
grown ones, that had been hatched and cared for by acommen hen, with some of herown 
chickens, had the liberty of all-out-doors, yet they remained constantly about the 
house and garden, seldom using their wings, and at the call to feed the poultry, they 
were the first to respond, and not until completely satisfied with the repast, was a 
chicken, turkey, or other fowl! permitted by these pugnacious little fellows to intrude or 
take a crumb. A slight attempt was made to induce this brood to roost upon a pereh, 
after the manner of their relatives, the chickens. The success was, however, only par- 
tial; their attachment to the old methods was too great, or their feeling of security so 
much inereased by placing themselves together in a circle with heads outward, as they 
naturally do at night, that only a compromise was effected. A board was placed in the 
chicken house five or six feet from the ground, and wide encugh to admit the number 
to place themselves tail to tailin a circle. On this they spent the night with the other 
fowls. I have no doubt, however, the habit of sleeping on the ground could readily be 
changed to that of rcosting on trees or other more secure places; as I instanced once in 
a bird reared with some chickens, which, after being instructed a few times, readily took 
the perch by the side of his foster-mother, and seemed as much at home as any of the 
chickens which were now old enough to roost. 
Birds from the field, under certain circumstances, as fear or want of suitable selection 
of ground, will roost singly upon trees and other elevated places. This I have seen 
quite often in the case of the everflow of lands by high water, and when bewiidered in 
an attempt to adopt city life. Every year, in the fall season, large coveys come into 
this city and are heard constantly whistling for each other, and may be seen running 
about the streets. These birds often roost on the house tops, the tops of chimneys, and 
on the branches of the street trees, one, and sometimes two in a place, and continue the 
practice for weeks, or until they become destroyed or leave for the country. As they 
always get together on foot, it becomes almost impossible, when once scattered in a city, 
to find each cther, and so long as one of their number remains absent and makea it 
known by the signal whistle, the other birds will remain and endeavor to make them- 
solves heard; and in doing this they again become dispersed and divided by houses, 
walls and fences; and thus day after day is occupied in these fruitless efforts to collect 
the family, each day lessening their number, until few, if any, reach the field again. 
The social relations existing between Bob-white and the barn+yard fowl are generally 
very friendly. Ihave frequently found bens’ eggs ard Quails’ eggs in onenest; and have 
Known a common hen and a Quail to deposit daily, each an egg in the same nest ; until 
the complement was full, at the end of which time the Quail submitted the incubation 
to her jarger companion. The disposition of these birds is only mcderately good. They 
are always amiable and gentle in their family relations, and rarely domineering or vin- 
dictive towards their friendly associates. They are cowardly towards their enemies; and 
while in coveys, seem to maintain a sense of security by keeping close together ; and so 
strong is this feeling, that wounded birds, unable to fly, will follow after their com- 
panions on foot, as long as able to go. When paired, the two are constant companions, 
ever watchful over the welfare of eachother. They share equally the duties and respon- 
sibilities of wedded life, and from the birth of the first offspring to their settlement in 
the world, as faithful father and mother, are unceasing protectors and providers for the 
family. This extraordinary strength of attachment, and exhibition of natural affection, 
