78 BULLETIN 162, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



vary from dull white to " cartridge buff " or " pale pinkish buff." 

 They are irregularly spotted and blotched with a mixture of large 

 blotches, small spots, and fine dots; sometimes the ground color is 

 well covered, but more often not. The markings are in shades of 

 dark or purplish browns, from " warm sepia " or " chocolate " to 

 " snuff brown." One of my sets has 5 eggs of the ordinary type 

 and 11 beautiful eggs with a " pinkish buff " ground color, well 

 covered with small blotches, spots, and fine dots of " deep grayish 

 lavender " and " deep heliotrope gray." This set shows the purplish 

 bloom referred to by Bendire (1892), which turns dark brown, when 

 washed, and dries out to purple again. The measurements of 99 

 eggs in the United States National Museum average 31.5 by 24 mil- 

 limeters; the eggs showing the four extremes measure 34 by 26, 28.5 

 by 24, and 30 by 23 millimeters. 



Young. — Incubation seems to be performed by the female alone 

 and is said to require from 21 to 24 days. Both sexes share in the 

 care of the young. Very early and very late dates indicate that at 

 least two broods are raised in a season. Coues (1874) says of the 

 young : 



They run about as soon as they are hatched, though probably not " with halt 

 shell on their backs," as some one has said. In a few days they become very 

 nimble, and so expert in hiding that it is difficult either to see or catch them. 

 When the mother bird is surprised with her young brood, she gives a sharp 

 warning cry, that is well understood to mean danger, and then generally flies a 

 little distance to some concealed spot, where she crouches, anxiously watching. 

 The fledglings, by an instinct that seems strange when we consider how short 

 a time they have had any ideas at all, instantly scatter in all directions, and 

 squat to hide as soon as they think they have found a safe place, remaining 

 motionless until the reassuring notes of the mother call them together again, 

 with an intimation that the alarm is over. Then they huddle close around 

 her, and she carefully leads them off to some other spot, where she looks for 

 greater security in the enjoyment of her hopes and pleasing cares. As long 

 as they require the parent's attention they keep close together and are averse 

 to flying. Even after becoming able to use their wings well, they prefer to 

 run and hide, or squat where they may be, when alarmed. If then forced up, 

 the young covey flies off, without separating, to a little distance, often re- 

 alighting on the lower limbs of trees or in bushes, rather than on the ground. 

 As they grow older and stronger of wing, they fly further, separate more readily, 

 and more rarely take to trees; and sometimes, before they are fully grown, 

 they are found to have already become wary and difficult of approach. As 

 one draws near where a covey is feeding, a quick, sharp cry from the bird 

 who first notices the approach alarms the whole, and is quickly repeated by the 

 rest, as they start to run, betraying their course by the rustling of dried 

 leaves. Let him step nearer, and they rise wiLh a whirr, scattering in every 

 direction. 



Plumages. — In natal down the young Gambel's quail is much like 

 the California quail at the same age, but the colors are paler and 

 duller. The front half of the crown and the sides of the head are 



