Page:Field key to the land birds .. (IA fieldkeytolandbi00knob).pdf/35

5 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.