GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC.—Order Gallinæ
Family Odontophoridæ
BOB-WHITE; QUAIL; VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE
289. Colinus virginianus. 10 in.
Male with white throat, bordered with black; female with a yellowish-brown throat, and line above eye. One of the most popular “game birds,” so popular that it is exterminated in New England, and birds imported from the west are unable to regain the lost foothold. Found in stubble and low brush, where they hide until almost stepped upon. They feed upon insects and grain.
Notes.—A clear whistled “bob-white” and a series of low, clear whistles when in flocks.
Nest.—Of grass at the end of tunnel in tall grass bordering fields; 8 to 16 white eggs (1.20 × .95); May.
Range.—Resident east of the Rockies, north to Minn. and Ontario. 289a, Fla. Bob-white (C. v. floridanus), found in southern Florida, is extremely dark (shown on plate). 289b, Texan Bob-white (C. v. texanus) is paler with black areas wider.
