CALIFORNIA QUAIL 59 



near the water-holes, rises are numerous, covered with thin, poor soil, where 

 cactuses and scrubby, thorny bushes grow, and here the blue quail abounds. 



Nesting. — Sennett evidently found only one nest, of which he says : 



On the 22d of May, near the buildings of the ranch at San Jose Lake, Mr. 

 Sanford shot a fine male, which was on the brush fence forming the enclosure. 

 In searching among the weeds where the bird fell, we found a nest and 16 fresh 

 eggs. The nest was under the edge of the fence, and was simply a saucer-like 

 depression in the ground, with leaves for lining. 



Three sets of eggs in my collection were taken from hollows in the 

 ground, under cactus plants or bushes, lined with grass, weeds, or 

 trash. Major Bendire (1892) says that " their nests are always placed 

 on the ground; a slight hollow in the sand is scratched out by the 

 bird, usually under a clump of weeds or grass, or a prickly-pear 

 bush. They are very slightly lined with dry grasses." 



Eggs. — The eggs of the chestnut-bellied scaled quail are practically 

 indistinguishable from those of the Arizona form, though they may 

 average a little more richly colored or more heavily spotted and a 

 trifle smaller. Major Bendire (1892) says: 



Full sets of eggs have been taken near Rio Grande City, and at Camargo 

 on the Mexican side of the river opposite, as early as March 11, and from 

 that time up to July 10. Two broods are unquestionably raised in a season. 

 Mr. Thomas H. Jackson, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, gives the average 

 number of eggs laid by this species as fifteen, based on data taken from 

 twenty-seven sets. The largest number found in one nest was twenty-three. 



The measurements of 77 eggs in the United States National 

 Museum average 31 by 24 millimeters; the eggs showing the four 

 extremes measure 34 by 24.5, 33 by 25.5, 28.5 by 23.5, and 30 by 22 

 millimeters. 



Behavior. — In its general habits this quail does not differ ma- 

 terially from its western relative. Its plumage changes, its food, 

 voice, and behavior are all similar. Both forms are resident in their 

 respective ranges, moving about only as the food supply demands. 



LOPHORTYX CALIFORNICA CALIFORNICA (Shaw) 

 CALIFORNIA QUAIL 



HABITS 



The type race of this species originally inhabited the narrow strip 

 of humid coast region from southwestern Oregon south to south- 

 ern Monterey County, Calif. It has been introduced on Vancouver 

 Island and in Washington, where it has become well established. 

 It differs from the more widely known valley quail in having the 

 upper parts olive-brown, rather than grayish brown, and the inner 

 margins of the tertials deeper buff. It does not differ materially 



