FAMILY Odontophoridce 



Sound, rare in the northern parts of its range. 

 The plumed quail, a closely related form, is 

 found from the Columbia River south to 

 Lower California in the more arid districts 

 east of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada 

 Mountains. 



The mountain quail and the plumed quail 

 are so nearly alike that the slight differences 

 will be overlooked in the field. It is well to 

 keep in mind that the former is found in the 

 deep wooded humid districts in the hills and 

 valleys while the latter species keeps more to 

 the drier parts west of the Cascades in Oregon 

 and on both sides of the Sierra Nevadas in 

 California. The mountain quail, or moun- 

 tain partridge frequents the wooded hills 

 throughout the interior valleys where its loud 

 clear whistle may be heard all summer as it 

 calls to its mate or young. Mrs. Bailey gives 

 a splendid rendition of its call in the words, 

 hah, hah, hah, there's danger ne-ar, there's dan- 

 ger ne-ar. Its whistle has a peculiarly pene- 

 trating and ventriloquial quality. 



The long straight plume on its head, and 

 its larger size will readily distinguish the 

 mountain quail from the California quail, the 

 latter having a shorter crest which curves 

 forward. The nest of the mountain quail is 

 placed on the ground in a thick clump of 

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