Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-01-13
A True Quail Story.

Fuzzy little things they were, halfway
between humble bees and new-hatched
chickens in size and three times as lively
as either They were as alike as three
peas in pod, but no doubt the mother
quail knew them apart and had little bird
names for each, perhaps. Almost as soon
as they were hatched they began TO
scramble out of the nest and run about
the. pen. They were not born out in the
open woods, like their many quail cousins,
but on State game farm where they
could be watched and tended just like
chickens. The pen seemed big to them
for they knew nothing of the world out
side.
Very happy were they hunting all day
long in the green grass and finding tiny
bugs and worms which tasted just as
good to them as candy does TO boys and
girls. They soon learned TO run quickly
when their mother called, for she could
find more fine bugs than any OF them and
the first one 10 reach her generally got the
bug. When the sun sank low in the west
the mother quail called them all TO her
and they settled down under the warm
feathers OF her breast. One baby quail
was not quite ready TO stop playing and
kept sticking his head out from under her
wing 10 see what was going on outside.
But before dark all were quiet, for chas-
ing bugs is hard work and makes young
quais very sleepy. All night long the
mother bird sat there, hardly moving a
feather while her babies slept.
Three happy days passed for the
mother quail and her babies and then
came terrible night when the babies
were awakened by sharp cries from tlle
mother and felt the chill night air on their
back. She was gone and they could hear
her flutter out in the dark somewhere,
although they could not see her at all.
Close crouched in the nest they waited
and shivered until the flutterings grew
fainter and tainter and then stopped al
together. Even in summer nights il is
cold for baby quails and so they shivered
until the sun came up. Then they saw
their mother, lying with rumpled feathers
close TO the fence where she had been
dragged by hungry weasel. She was
dead, but they did not know it and kept
playing around her and wondering why
she did not get up and hunt bugs for
when. Then came The father bird. The
babies did not know him so well for il
had always been the mother who hunted
bugs for them and kept them warm at
night. AT first they did not understand
him as well, but they found that he was
good bug chaser and soon began TO
follow him about. When sundown came
he called them TO him and settled down
for the night over them, just as though he
had done it always. Snug and pleasant
il was beneath his warm breast bright
and early did he lead them out for their
bug breakfast and for new day OF hap
piness.
Perhaps for a little time they saw
difference and missed their mother, but if
they are warm and comfortable and have
plenty 10 eat, little birds soon forget.
After few days they were well content
to follow their father about and they grew
very fast and very strong in the warm
summer days. A week, two weeks, three
weeks, he cared for them night and day
The fuzzy down of their baby days
changed TO scraggly feathers and in time
these changed TO trim brown and gray
like their fathers, their mothers or any
of their COUSINS, aunts and uncles. Then
they were ready to take care Of them
selves. Don't you think that the father
bird must have been very proud ofthem? ?
And was he not smart bird TO bring up
such fine family all by himself?