The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-08-29

hollow where the sunbeams fall warmly.
When the snow covers the ground food
naturally becomes scarce, and the bevies
are then forced to wander all day, and,
at such times, frequently resort to BARN
yards, where the strawstack and scatter
ed grain afford them sustenance and
shelter. In their hours of retirement
the birds invariably lie in small circle
with their heads outward Thus hud-
died, with bodies touching, they impart
warmth to each other, and at the same
time keep on the lookout for danger |
from every quarter, and avoid interior
ence if forced to take wing suddenly, as,
though naturally non-migratory, circum-
ference sometimes compel them to |
change their quarters. When birds are |
present in large numbers in sections |
where food is not plentiful, failure of the |
supply necessarily forces them to go else |
where. Floods, too, compel move, and
being constantly harrassed by hunters
will sometimes do it. At such times
they generally gather in large bands
and perform their journey on foot, sell
dom flying unless they meet with rivers
or other distractions which they cannot
cross in any other way. On these mi
grations they are very wild, and will not
allow man or dog to approach them I'M
less tired and forced to rest.
The question whether the quail ever
withholds scent has provoked warm dis
cussions, but we have no hesitation in
saying no man will doubt it if he fairly
investigates the matter under circum-
stances favorable for its display. The
writer does not claim or think that this
is, in any degree, voluntary exhibition.
On the contrary, it is purely physical,
and can be easily accounted for. In the
first place, it is never exhibited until the
birds have been flushed, and only by
such as are inclined to it in manner we
shall presently show. Dead or wounded
birds never display it, and il one that
has withheld scent is flushed and wound
ed, the dogs find it without difficulty,
thus showing it is not voluntary action,
or it would be resorted TO when most
needed to aid escape What, then, are
e the circumstances which call it into
5 action, and how is the scent withheld ?
1t is displayed only by birds that have
4 been made wild by hunting or constant
L disturbance. When such are flushed
L they fly to cover, drop and lie absolutely
Is immovable, with their feathers drawn sc
e closely about them that they appear
( much smaller than they usually are
L This drawing in the feathers covers tn,
ut body with very close coat, which con
IT fines the scent, and does not permit ii t.
Y. escape while this condition is maintain
~ ed for hours, or only few moments, jus
III in proportion to the wildness and timid
So ity of the birds
ne Frank Forester bears testimony T.
tn the withholding of scent, hundreds c
by other sp6rtsmcn have noticed it, and tn
hc writer has seen exhibitions of il in ever
oh year Of long sporting life. No longC
se ago than the last season the writer and
Of friend. who was skcptic upon tn
m point, flushed wild bcvy, which flew
ret cover, with the exception Of four TIN
nd were turned from their course and droI
nat ped in an old clover-feld. These We
hat marked and followed, but only one VI
the flushed, and that was literally steps
ave upon by one of the dogs. Another W
cr discovered skulking under tuft of de;
lng grass, and both dogs were charged with
will Il yard too leeward of il, while the writ
leir and friend sat down to await develo
pu- ments. For nearly an hour the-bird
bic in plain sight, without moving feath
any then one of the dogs, being lmpatie
,nal rose and stepped forward, which startl
ulo- the bird SO that it turned over, VIII
both instantly pointed. Many oil
and cases could be cited if space would p
nest nit, but certainly one such instal
rain would convince any reasonable man.
lcrs reason this exhibition is not more
ted, quently noticed and especially in :
boy, tons were quails abound, is simply t
and where the birds are plentiful sportsn
Fort seldom follow up scattered bevies, !
teen ferring the less difficult work of find
lrt of new ones. Thus the birds are not m
fields very wild, or at least if so their acti
Tiled are not observed Many absurd thee
very have been advanced by men apparel
r de- anxious to prove this power {
their not exist. Some have claimed
too birds were not marked down props
empt others that they ran away as SCOT
We to dropped and were not found till the!
led as turned and one noted shot (who
four written book full of errors) has
quail ventured the assertion that the
, and were not found because the ground
ny be so strongly scented by others that
:. 1t dogs could not distinguish that OF
while viduals Hundreds Of sportsmen
t, but that they have marked birds down
man in yard, yet failed to find them
round dogs that never failed under other
Sessed Cumstanccs. As for the second c
riectly it is simply folly to suppose that
'Iy dis could run away without giving on
about same scent rs when running at
e close times and as for the last, it is only
Is true cssary to say that sometimes, at
~ rest birds act in this way when driven
II Is I" places where there can be no seem
recall their own. because other birds hay,
'l's al previously been there.
e uSu- Quail shooting opens in Octob
lumber November, by which time the
tied OF have most fallen, and the birds aft
lection fair mark Let no one, however
identity pose he is easily killed, for he
T. same ,rirkrst If all came birds ON the