138 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



the chick just from the egg, in the form of a little tuft of down. The 

 general slate and olive color of the adult is beautifully marked with 

 white along the sides, inner secondaries of the wings, sides of the neck, 

 etc. The bird is found breeding along the Pacific coast region from 

 California north into Washington Territory. Mr. Emerson informs me 

 that it breeds in the higher mountain ranges, not below 4,000 feet. In 

 some portions of Oregon it is very abundant. The eggs are deposited 

 on the ground, on a bed of dead leaves, under a bush or tuft of grass 

 or weeds. Six to twelve are usually laid, of a cream color with a red- 

 dish tint. Dr. Coues describes the eggs as miniatures of the Ruffed 

 Grouse's, only distinguishable by their smaller size, i.36x 1.02. 



292a. Oreortyx pictus plumiferus (GOULD.) [48m.] 



Plumed Partridge. 



Sierra Nevada ranges from Oregon southward; coast ranges of California to Cape St. Lucas. 



This sub-species, which very much resembles O. pictus, inhabits 

 both sides of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from Eastern Oregon 

 southward, through the coast ranges of California. Its general habits, 

 nesting, eggs, etc., are the same as those of the Mountain Partridge. 

 The eggs are creamy-buff, of varying shades, and their average size is 



1.40 x 1.02. 



293. Callipepla squamata (Vic.) [484-] 



Scaled Partridge. 



Hab. Northwestern Mexico and border of the United States, from Western Texas to New Mexico 

 and Southern Arizona. 



This handsome Partridge, called Blue Quail, is distributed 

 throughout Northwestern Mexico, Western Texas, New Mexico and 

 Arizona, but is said to be less numerous than the crested Partridges or 

 Quails. In Arizona they are found in flocks of from six to ten, some- 

 times more in the most barren places, miles away from any water. 

 Mr. W. E. D. Scott found this Quail as abundant on the dry mesas of 

 the San Pedro slope of the Santa Catalina Mountains, up to an altitude 

 of 3,500 feet, as its congener C. gambeli. At this altitude Mr. Scott found 

 a nest, May 20, containing eleven eggs.*' It inhabits a more open 

 country than gambeli and in other localities large flocks of both 

 species were often seen together. A slight depression under a bush 

 serves as a nest, it is generally lined with a few coarse grasses. In 

 Western Texas complete sets of eggs may be found as early as April 

 25. The eggs are extremely thick-shelled ; the number laid ranges 

 from eight to sixteen, twelve being the more common number. Their 

 color is buffy- white or of a cream color, irregularly dotted with specks 

 of light brown; size I.24X.94- 



*Auk. Ill, pp. 387-388. 



