Page:Bird-lore Vol 06.djvu/233

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rgo Bird-Lore

rapidly" The cock, however, did not see her, and continued the call. Shortly wearying, he walked leisurely down the tree, with a most dejected air, and directed his course to the food. when suddenly he espied his feeding mate. He halted, stretched his neck to its utterrnost length upwards, and gazed upon his greedy spouse as though he could not believe his eyes. and then. darting to her through the intervening grass, began feeding close to her side. with a most satisfied and affectionate demeanor, We had not previously known that these birds, when left to their own pretty manner- isms, and not unceasingly terrorized by the insatiable hunter, would sit and sun themselves on chairs near averanda w‘here numerous peoples at talking. Neither did we know that, after finding desirable and exceptional food. they would forgo their individual hunger. until they had called to them a less fortunate mare, and, above all, that they had a peculiar and little used whistle for this summons, and that they would seek an altitude to make it the more effective. Some of the observers of this little love scene between the Quail had hunted them, with dog and gun, many seasons, in many places; butl am positive that, in the future, this sport, if indulged in by them at all, will give far less pleasure, because of their having been with us in Florida that spring afternoon on the banks of the Halifax.


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