. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. THE COMMoy rARTSimiE. 115 they are to be seen alive iu most of the Zoological Gardens of Europe. The C'aliforiiian Quail is not only remarkable for the beautiful crest which adorns the head, but also for the rich admixture of colour in its plumage. It is very plentiful in California, being found, according to Dr. Ganibel, in swarms, which inhabit not only the woods, but also bushy plains and hill-sides, these flocks some- times numbering a thousand individuals. As many as fifteen eggs are laid, and the same observer once found twenty-four
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. THE COMMoy rARTSimiE. 115 they are to be seen alive iu most of the Zoological Gardens of Europe. The C'aliforiiian Quail is not only remarkable for the beautiful crest which adorns the head, but also for the rich admixture of colour in its plumage. It is very plentiful in California, being found, according to Dr. Ganibel, in swarms, which inhabit not only the woods, but also bushy plains and hill-sides, these flocks some- times numbering a thousand individuals. As many as fifteen eggs are laid, and the same observer once found twenty-four in a nest, which he supposed to have been the produce of two hen birds. The nest is placed on the ground, usually beneath a bush or at the foot of a tree, the eggs being placed in a hollow, and generally covered with a few leaves or a little ilrii'd The Common Partridge (Perdix cineivn) is widely spread over Europe, being replaced in Eastern Siberia by the Bearded Partridge (Ferdix harhata). Unlike the Pheasants or^ the woodland-loving Urouse, the Partridge prefers the open gi-ound, and runs, thereby, considerable risk in the rearing of its brood, should the season be wet- and unfavourable to the little ones ; hence it arises that the plenty or scarcity of this game-bird depends greatly upon the summer diu-ing which the nesting lias been in progress. The eggs are often placed in a very exposed situation, and a considerable number of young birds are never hatchetl, owing to the accidents which overtake the sitting bii-d during the season of incubation at the jaws of a prowling fox or cat. Any apparent carelessness, however, on the part of the bird as regards her eggs, is amply compensated by the care and courage with which the old bird defends the brood if nxised successfully. A nestling Partridge is a beautiful little creature, and has a knack of concealing its small body in the grass in such a successful manner, that if once tlie observer takes his eye off the bird, he
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
