El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-30

1 American game birds. Bob White"
is certainly heir apparent to the
throne. And while turkey have al
most disappeared from the wilds OF
this country. bobwhites are contin-
uaIly charging their range.
Bobwhites are sometimes enron
eously called quail. which term is,
strictly speaking. applicable only to a
species OF migratory bird that ilves in
Europe. Africa and Asia. north OF
the Himilayas. Bobwhites are
not migratory. Sometimes a single
''covey" will maintain headquarters
along a certain hedge for many years.
In the CarOlinas and Virginia. where
bobwhites are most abundant, they
are denominated partridges. There
is another kind Of partridge that
flourishes on the Pacific coast. and
is found all through the Rocky noun
tains, even in FL PasO, which is many
cOlored with crests and head plumes
This species is not to be compared
with the bobwhite as a game bird
Hear EN- whistle!
Bobwhites are so named on account
Of their whistle. During the spring
just before sunset in rural districts
almost anywhere from Maine to the
gulf, one hears anywhere IN the fields
and along the edges OF woodland
their shrill, peculiar call so closely
resembling the spoken words. Bob
White" There are two species Of
bObwhites along the Mexican border.
although there are very few OF ono
and the other Is almost extinct.
They Help, Don't Destroy.
BobWhites are plump, stoclIy little
birds. shaped along the lines Of the
guinea. mottled reddish brown and
nh ~
black bordered throat and white lines
over their eyes They live in open
spaces, generally old fields and stub
BILE land. sometimes on the edges Of
sparsely timbered land. and run in
large numbers called "coveys." These
from five to 50. They feed on weed
and grass seeds and fallen grain and
insects but never damage crops. They
are OF great value 10 farmers. for
they destroy innumerable destructive
insects and noxious weed and grass
seeds every year.
How Mothers Guard Young.
Bobwhites carefully conceal their
nests in hedges and sometimes as
many as 40 birds will be Matched from
the little white eggs in q single nest.
They VIII abandon nest even after
many eggs have been laid therein II
II be disturbed IN the most instgnifi-
cant manner. even placing ones hand
in II. It IS exceedingly interesting 10
watch mother bird trying to at
tract the attention OF an enemy from
her little brood She will give q
flutter away as 4 wounded and IN
able to fly while all OF the little
birds run to cover and remain per-
fectly motionless. II the enemy re-
main within the vicinity OF the young.
she will do many things to call him
towards her
Hound dogs are their greatest en-
envy. breaking up their nests and de-
stroying young birds. Foxes suck
their eggs and eat the small birds,
but this destructive little animal has
almost disappeared from the forests.
Little negro boys break up q great
many Of their nests. but planters
have almost ended this practice.
Boys Trap Them !
Boys make Stat traps and catch
bobwhites in the winter. A boy will
take four strong pine Stats about is
inches long. fix them as a square.
Join the opposite diagonal corners
with strong strings, then put Stats
between the base Stats and the
strings, building up the trap until Il
runs up TO nothing IN pyramid
shape. Sc sets his trap near where a
covey ranges. covers II with grass.
putting a few grains OF corn under
his trap at the end OF the trigger so
that when the birds are eating the
corn the trigger springs and the trap
falls, sometimes catching several
birds at one time.
Drive Birds Into Nets.
Pot hunters sometimes join sev-
sral small meshed fish nets together
stretch their combined nettings in
the shape Of the letter Y on the edge
Of a field and then ride on horseback I
over the field driving the birds into /
the net where they are caught in I
large numbers. BobWhites will not /
fly from a man on horseback During I
SHOWS. bobwhites huddle up together /
in q bunch under some hedge, pre- !
ferably a small cedar tree. Under /
such circumstances, a man may kill I
1 dozen or more at one shot
hat Cody has the better team" came /
he reply. Did you ever know a /
horse that wins on = muddy track !
hat was ever able to win any other
inner
II any local artist Is contemplating
masterpiece entitled After the Bat
L." IN which he intends to depict the
tory OF a football game. he missed
he chance Of lifetime II he was
rot at the Stadium to get a glimpse Of ]
'Tarzan" Boslego after the Bcrim-
mage. With a shocky head Of hair
veil plastered with mud. face deco
ated like q Comanche ready for the
var path and fighting spirit bullying