1851.] 221 



of grasses and other plants, whose seeds afford abundant and nutritious food to all 

 kinds of ganne. I discovered no difference in the appearance or habits of this 

 bird, here, from those of the common quail of the Atlantic States. 



CyRTONYX, Gould. 



45. C. Massena, Gould. Massena Quail, or Partridge. 



This species was not seen before crossing the San Pedro : but it was not long 

 until it made its appearance in the waste and rocky region into which we then 

 entered. And from that time until we reached the Rio Pecos, a distance of 140 

 m., (westwardly by the route travelled,) it was frequently seen, though I should 

 not say it was very common. This region is a desert of great length from North 

 to South, our trail crossing it nearly at right angles. The general face of the 

 country is level, and consists of either a crumbling argillaceous limestone, or a 

 coarse grey sand, producing nothing but a sparse growth of sandpiants. Water 

 is found only at long intervals ; and except at these points there is but little cover 

 for game, and apparently less food, the principal growth being Cacti of which 

 the most common is C. arhorescens; yet here, amongst projecting rocks, or on the 

 borders of dry gullies, or in loose scrub, I found C. Massena in all the beauty of 

 his rich and varied plumage. 



The habits of this species are different from those of any other species of Part- 

 ridge that I have met with. They were in covies of from 8 to 12, and appeared to 

 be extremely simple, and affectionate in disposition. In feeding, they separated but 

 little, keeping up a social check all the time. They were so gentle as to evince 

 little or no alarm on the approach of man; scarcely moving out of his way as he 

 passed; and only running off or flying a few yards when perhaps half their num- 

 bers were laid low by a shot. This inclined me to think they might with little 

 difficulty be domesticated, although I found them, here, in a boundless barren 

 waste, and nowhere near the habitation of man. This trait of gentleness is the 

 very opposite of those strikingly manifested by the scaly partridge, which I always 

 observed to be, though found perchance in grounds as little frequented as these, 

 remarkably vigilant, shy, and difficult to approach. The call or signal note of 

 this species is peculiar. I never saw them alter crossing the Pecos river. 



LoPHORTYx, Bonaf. 

 46. L. Gambelii, Nutt. GambePs Quail, or Partridge. 



After losing sight of the last species, I did not fall in with this until we reached 

 the Limpia river, about 100 m. west of the Pecos. This beautiful bird, whose 

 habits in some respects bear more resemblance to the common partridge, like that, 

 seems to prefer a more genial and hospitable region. In this part of the country, 

 the Mesquite tree i^A. glandnlosa) is more or less common ; and the Mesquite 

 grass, and other plants bearing nutritious seeds, are abundant. Here, this part- 

 ridge increases rapidly in numbers, and becomes very fat. And, as I afterwards as- 

 certained, is much disposed to seek the farms, if any be within reach, and to cul- 

 tivate the acquaintance of man. About the rancho of Mr. "White, near El Paso, 

 I found them very numerous ; and here in gangs of 50, or 100, they resort, morn- 

 ing and evening, to the barn-yard, and feed around the grain stacks in company 

 with the poultry, where they receive their portion, as it is scattered among them, 

 by the hand of the owner. 



1 found them distributed through the country from the Limpia to the Rio 



