PLUMED QUAIL ^LOPHORTYX CAMBELI. 437 



run, betraying- their course by tbe rustling of dried leaves. Let liiiu 

 step nearer, and tbey rise with a whirr, scattering in every direction. 



Newly-hatched birds may be found all summer ; and incubation goes 

 on from, say, early in May until the middle of August. Is^ot that any 

 single pair are engaged so long, but that different broods may be hatched 

 during all this time. The greater number of old birds i)air in Aprii, 

 and hatch their first brood some time during the following month. 

 Most of them doubtless raise another. Others appear to defer iucnba- 

 tion for a month or two, and have but one brood. The first cbicks that 

 I saw in the summer of 18G5 were hatched in May ; and I fonnd others, • 

 the same year, only a few days old in August; but by this month almost 

 all the birds of tbe year were well grown, and by September were in 

 condition to afford legitimate sport. In October a few are found not 

 yet ready to be shot ; but the great majority are as large as the parents, 

 and nearly as strong of wing. The season may, therefore, be said to 

 begin in October and continue into March, but birds should not be pur- 

 sued later than the middle of this month. For although few birds, if 

 any, actually mate before April, it is cruel as well as injudicious to dis- 

 turb them while they are preparing- to do so. The beginning of the 

 l)airing season may be known to be at hand when certain peculiar cries, 

 different from any usnally emitted during the fall and winter, are heard. 



These notes are a sign that the coveys are breaking up and mating 

 about to commence. They are analogous to the "bob-white" of the 

 Eastern Quail {Orfyx rirginiamis), and are uttered, as with that species, 

 more particularly in the breeding season. The note is a loud, energetic, 

 two-syllabled whistle, delivered in a clear, ringing tone. It is difficult to 

 write down inteUigently, but, once heard, is not likely to be afterward 

 mistaken, except for one of the cries of the Black-headed Grosbeak. It 

 sounds, to my ears, something like the forcible i)ronunciation of the 

 syllables '•'■IdUinh^ JdlUnlc,''^ indefinitely repeated, sometimes with a rising, 

 sometimes a falling, intonation. The old cocks, if they can be seen so 

 engaged, are found strutting along some fallen log, or gesticulating from 

 the top of some broad rock, or stepping with dignified air along a path- 

 way under the bushes; sometimes even perched in a tree or bush, with- 

 out other motion than the heaving of the chest. But, wherever they 

 may be, they have one mind in common ; their only thought, to secure 

 the admiration and then the favor of birds more modest if not more fair. 



A beautiful sight it is to see the enamored birds ])ressing suit with 

 all the pomp and circumstance of their brilliant courtships. The firm 

 and stately tread, with body erect and comely shai)e disi)layed to best 

 advantage; the quivering wings; the motion of the plumes, that wave 

 like the standard of knights-errant; the fiashing eyes — besj)eak i)roud 

 consciousness of masculine vigor. The beautiful bird glances defiance 

 and challenges loudly, eager for a rival; but none disputes, and he may 

 retire, his rights proven. Only a gentler bird is near, hidden in a leaty 

 bower, whence she watches, admiring his bearing, fascinated by the 

 courage she sees displayed, hoping every moment that the next will 

 bring liim, dreading lest it may. As their eyes meet, she trembles and 

 would turn to fly, but cannot; his glow again, but with a different light, 

 even more intense than before. With an exultant cry, he fiies straight 

 to her, and, like the true knight he is, for just oiu' instant bends till his 

 breast touches the ground, and is then erect again. He leans toward 

 her, half-spreads his wing over her, and pleads in uiuler-tone. She 

 listens, but draws away; she listens, but only stands irresolute; she 

 listens, and, listening, yields. 



