The suburban citizen., 1902-08-16
SKETCH OF "B0B WHITE"
A BIRD WHICH BRINGS GREAT
WEALTH INTO THE SOUTH.
The Partridge, or Quail, Makes Her Nest
Beneath Some Bush or Grass Cluster
The Young Run as Soon as HRtched
..-A Clear, Ringing Whistle.

A4ALfs NOltAAbuANh W AAI @hNAaAAA@ A@NN
cational Journal the following sketch
OF the partridge or quail (collnus vir-
gnianus), sometimes called the bob
White" Says Mr.. Pearson;
This bird probably brings more
wealth into the Southern States than
does any other one species of the
feathered tribe. They are such uni
versal favorites among sportsmen that
thousands Of men journey to the
South each winter to shoot them. In
travel, in the building of clubhouses,
in the employment Of numbers of
trainers and guides, hundreds of thou
sands of dollars are annually put into
circulation. Besides this, the hunters
usually pay the landowners for the
privilege of cunning on their prem
lses. 1t Is universal custom over
large areas of the South for the sports
men regularly to pay the taxes on the
land for the sole privilege of shooting
on It. In Gullford County, North Car
olina, over $1,000 was paid in taxes the
past year hE parties who hold con-
tracts of this character. More than
twice this sum was paid by the sports
men TO trainers, wardens and cooks.
Whatever may be said against this
system by lovers Of birds, there are
some things which can of surety be
said in its favor. The sportsmen who
pay for the privilege Of hunting, en-
ploy wardens to keep away the hetero-
geneous throng of local gunners, many
of whom are pot hunters, and some
even who frequently spend their time
in shooting ~for fun" every mocking-
bird, sparrow, thrush or woodpecker
which may happen to appear. Sports
men hunt only during a small period
Of the Year, and their killing as a rule,
does not cause any extensive losses to
the birds. In winter, when severe
weather renders difficult the task
which the birds have of obtaining their
food, it Is the custom of the sportsmen
to have the snow scraped away at DIFF
ferent places about the fields and BUSH
els Of peas, wheat and cracked corn
put out for them. The partridges soon
learn these places, and come here reg
ularly for the food so kindly spread
for them. Nor are they the only birds
which profit by this generosity. Many
other grain and seed eating birds en-
joy these opportunities and gather at
these wonderful spots Of plenty. Guam
titles Of the little feathered people are
thus tided over periods Of temporary
famine. 1t is matter Of common OBJ
servation that in sections where this
taxpaying system has been put into
practice the number Of partridges are
on the increase.
The partridge makes her nest on the
ground beneath some bush or grass
cluster and there deposits her handful
Of pure white eggs, the beauty Of which
is soon marred BY the stains from the
dead grass blades on which they rest.
The number OF eggs laid in nest va
ries from twelve to twenty. The
young are able to run almost as soon
as hatched. One of the most interest
ing experiences Of our fields in summer
10 W AllSGONCI lulllly VI DOU-W nlltOt
the young of which are as yet unable
to fly. The parents at once fan lame
ness, and, with cries of distress, fiut-
ter along the earth before the intruder,
adroitly seeking to draw him from the
vicinity. In many regions two broods
of young are reared in a season. These
families usually unite after the second
brood appears. Sometimes two pairs
Of partrldges will combine their fami.
lies, and all feed for time together.
birds together in the woods, and have
observed three sizes Of young accom-
panied by old birds.
The food of the partridge in summer
consists Of many kinds Of grasshop-
pers, moths, bugs and other insects to-
gether with any grain which may be
picked up about the fields. In winter
the birds frequent swamps and creek
bottoms to gather berries from the
bushes, and venture into the fields on
excursions for weed seeds and such
grains of wheat and corn as may have
been left on the ground at harvest.
The partridge is a cheerful bird. His
clear, ringing whistle in spring time,
which he produces In calling to his
mate, is one Of the most characteristic
notes Of our meadow land. In the au-
tumn and winter he seldom whistles,
except when giving the scatter call'
with view Of reassembling the disu-
nlted family after some sudden fright.
These birds are easily trapped, and
vast numbers Of them are captured
thus each year and sold in the local
markets for food. II not unduly per-
secuted these little hen-llke birds may
| survive the destructive influences of
civilization long after many other
forms Of feathered life have ceased to
exist. For, although they are shot and
trapped so university by man, they
have also been relieved of many of
their natural enemies by the same
cause, and the broad fields of grain
afford them food and cover which the
uncleared wilderness could never fur.
nish.
GracelsssWearcrs OF the Panama
There are so few Englishmen who