134 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



the cave in our own canyon. They are very responsive 

 birds when not so frequently alarmed as to be afraid of 

 man. Often twenty or thirty were seen running about 

 among the buildings, and sometimes were at our very 

 doors when we got up in the morning. Some would 

 perch on the rock piles, or even the house tops, and 

 sound their cheerful call notes to others scurrying 

 over the sidehills. With adequate protection and the 

 encouragement afforded by a few sacks of grain, these 

 birds could be kept as one of the delightful features of 

 the cave region. 



The M earns quail, or as locally known, the "fool 

 quail," has one of its remaining strongholds in the 

 Guadalupe Mountains, and occasionally a few of the 

 birds come down on the juniper ridges to the vicinity 

 of the cave entrance. These plump little partridges, 

 with short wings and strong feet, and striking color 

 pattern, have a very limited range near the Mexican 

 border, and from their gentle and confiding natures 

 seem in actual danger of extermination. This is per- 

 haps the best remaining place to study their habits. 

 It is now well known that their unusually large and 

 strong feet and claws are used in tearing up small 

 bulbs, onions, and rootlets from the ground for food in 

 summer, but how they live in winter, how they get 

 along without water, and to what extent their naturally 

 gentle natures could be cultivated are factors wholly 

 unknown. Their flesh is darker and more delicious 

 than that of most of our other quail, and their domesti- 

 cation, if accomplished, might prove of much practical 

 value. 



