FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS.
O
night they sleep on the ground in a circular Imnch, all tails toward the centre and heads outwards, on guard against a hostile surprise. AVhen flushed the whole flock rise at once and generally keep together, Then they alight, flying low for a short distance. on the ground, rarely on trees, and immediately each When flushed again hird runs for cover and hides. birds rise singl}^,
the
and
fly in
After a quarter of an hour or the
safe,
leaders
call
different so,
directions.
when
scattered flock
the
all
seems
together
again.
During hard wintei-s and deep snow Quails suffer greatly and often starve, as their food consists mostly They require gravel also of grain and grass seed. to digest their food, and at these times are often found hunting for it in stone walls and in the cuts along roadsides. They never go far from their own even if hard hunted, and when they feel become so tame as to feed with the hens around Besides being hunted by man they liouses and barns. are relentlessly persecuted by hawks, foxes, and cats, and their nests are robbed by skunks and crows. districts,
safe
This
is
the only Quail east of the Rocky Mounsouth and west of which there are several
tains, to the
other species.
SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. CANADA
2.
GROUSE.
Dendragapm
canadensis.
— Length,
15
Gray and brown aV)ove underparts white, barred and spotted with black; a red spot above the eye tail black, with tips and outer feathers redFemale similar, but without the black on brown. throat, breast, and Ijelly. This l)ird lives in the Northern spruce forests, and feeds on the spruce Inids, of inches.
Avhich a strong taste permeates the meat, rendering valueless for food.
3. asa
PARTRIDGE. RUFFED GROUSE. umheUus.
—
Leni>tli.
17
inches.
Brown
it
Bonabove.
