The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-07-25
MUSIC BY THE QUAIL.
More Notes I'm Its Repertoire Than
There Are Commonly Sup
posed to BE,

The quail is not held to be a musical
bird, yet it has more notes than the
two which make the ordinary call of
Bob White" and which by many peo-
pie are thought to make it's entire rep
ertoire. At this season, when mating
has begun in the country which is the
quaiPs northern limit, it has all of its
calls at command and uses them all.
1t will continue to do so until the
cold days of fall have come, when the
Bob White" call will be dropped al
most wholly. 1t is very rare thing to
hear quail utter these notes after
September, for they form its spring
call and, in sense, its counting or love
call, says the New York Sun.
1t is produced solely by the mail and
is most common just whSn lovemaking
is general. 1t is an advertisement to
the females that its utterer is in the
market and is willing to go to house
keeping, at least that he is willing to
marry and permit his wife to build the
house, keep it and take care of the
young.
as common; but it comes then from
males which have fathered one brood
and are announcing their willingness
to father another. This call is made
by repetition of the note G of the
musical scale. the second G being lust
an octave higher.
The assembly call, used at any and
all times, even when the females are
nesting or are mothering the Young,
consists of two notes, with an interval
of third. and A. the being above
the middle c, as indeed are the two
G's used in the love call There is mu-
steal comedy on the road named "Miss
Bob White" but it is evident to any
man who has ever squinted over a
double-barrel that its author is not ac-
quainted with the ways and minstrelsv
of Robert White on his native heath.
The male quail is a pugnacious lit
tie beast, and its readiness to FIGHT
grows to positive ardor in the srring-
time. Even on cold winter days. when
there is light snow falling and the
bevy is making its way in single file
through some bit of underground or
across field, utterance of challenge
by one hidden will set all of the cocks
to dancing about and looking for the
challenger.
1t is sound impossible to produce
in type, but is short. soft, staccato
kissing often repeated. 1t is inaudibIe
to the human ear at 80 feet but the
quail will hear it further and two of
them will often come together across
half an acre of thicket. In these COM
pats there are never, so far as observa.
ton extends, any fatalities. but one Of
the warriors being soundly trounced
will fly away when he has more than
enough.
The quail has one other note. which
it utters in fright or warning. which
every person who has hunted the birds
has heard. 1t gives it when running
along the ground ahead of a dog or
when disturbed by human foot in their
covert. tits cheeping noise, not I'M
like the ''peeping" of very young chick
ems.
The quail is not hooking bird or
hermit thrush, and does not pose as a
vocalist, yet its Sob White" call rings
full and true over the greening fields
and its assembly notes are plaintive.
and musical. When the sun is setting
in summer or fall and the co-link-co-
tank of cowbells comes up the lane. the
plump little fier issues its summons to
the wandering members Of the bevy
and its voice adds homelikeness, COM
fort and enjoyment. There are many
country sounds written of by poets
and essayists which are less deserving
than these homely quarter songs.