438 PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



*155. Zenaedura carolinensis, (Linn.)- — Mourning Dove. 



The Mourning Dove is abundant in all parts of tlic valleys and foot- 

 hills in summer, at which time it is rather common between Murphy's 

 and Big Trees, though found principally in the open lilaces of the forest. 



It is rare at Stockton in winter, though quite common at Marysville 

 during the same time. Flocks of fifty or a hundred may be found everj* 

 winter at the latter place, although not nearly so abundant at that time 

 as in summer. 



At Murphy's, August 29, 1878, I found two nests, both of which con- 

 tained eggs. Two days later I found young birds in one of them. 



Family TETEAONID^ : The Grouse. 



*156. Canace obscura, (Say). — Dusly Grouse. 



This fine game bird is quite abundant near the summit of the Sierra 

 Nevada, latitude 39°, and a few breed at Big Trees, where I once found 

 a nest containing seven eggs, which is about as many as they ever lay, 

 judging by the many flocks of young birds of less number which I 

 have seen. They utter, from a tree, when alarmed, the same " Imlc, Icuh,''^ 

 as nearly as I remember, a Frame Chicken {Cnpidonia cujyido) does 

 under similar circumstances. In August and September the males keep 

 by themselves, and are generally found singly. Toward the last of Sep- 

 tember I have had much difiiculty in finding this bird at places where it 

 had previously been common. The exi)lanation may be that they are 

 then in the tall, dense evergreens, or have, as they are said to do, gone 

 well up the adjacent peaks, or, possibly, lower down ; but this last is not 

 likely, as they do not appear to be more numerous at Big Trees or the 

 lower i)ortion of their range in winter than in summer. I have not seen 

 it at or several hundred feet above Murphy's. 



It is said to remain in particular trees much of the time in winter, and 

 to be found by hunters by its droppings on the snow. 



Family PEEDICID^ : The Partridges and Quails. 



*157. Oreortyx picta, (Douglas). — CaUforuian Mountain Quail. 



This Quail is a common summer resident of the Sierra from an ele- 

 vation of about 4,000 feet to 8,500 feet, and is generally distributed 

 through the forest except where there is unusual scarcity of Avater or 

 where the herbage is closely grazed by sheep. A few breed near Mur- 

 phy's and between that i)lace and Big Trees. Every winter it is common 

 in the upper edge of the chaparral belt in Calaveras County, and it is 

 usually common in Kovember in Yuba County at an altitude of six 

 hundred feet or less ; while near Oroville and on the Honcut Creek, I 

 have seen it nearly on a level with the Sacramento Valley. 



When scattered, their call is much like that of young turkeys. In 

 breeding season, the male has a loud, modulated, very agreeable note. 

 They hatched at Big Trees about July 8, 1878. Their eggs are cream- 



