PERDICID^— THE PARTRIDGES — OREORTYX. 



547 



nortli of the Columbia. South of San Francisco they are unknown near the 

 coast, unless some birds seen by memljurs of the survey in the iVLjunt 

 Dialilo Eange at an elevation of over three thousand feet, were of this species. 

 In the Sierra Nevada they have been obtained at Fort Tejon, about four 

 thousand feet elevation, and seen at Cajon Pass in winter, about the same 

 elevation, and in lat. 34°. They probalily extend farther south in the 

 mountains. At lat. 39° they descend in winter to about three thousand 

 feet, and are found lower towards the north, until in Oregon they frequent 

 the borders of the Willamette Valley, but little above the sea-level. They 

 are not common anywhere within the range of the gunners who supply 

 the San Francisco market ; all those I have seen there having been brought 

 alive from the Sierra Nevada. They abound in summer up to seven thou- 

 sand feet in that range, where I found them in September, the young not 

 quite full grown, and the old birds inoulting. In habits and flight they 

 have considerable resemblance to our other i[uails, Ijut their cries are quite 

 different. Tlieir note of alarm is a rather faint chirp, scarcely warning the 

 sportsman of their presence before they fly. They scatter in all directions 

 wlien Hushed, and then call each other together by a wliistle, ^'ery much 

 like that of a man calling his dog. According to Newbeny, the hen has a 

 cluck, much like that of the common hen, when calling together her young 

 brood about the first of August. The chickens also uttered a piping note, 

 scattering and concealing themselves in the gTas.s. Tlicir notes and Iiabits 

 in spring have not yet been described. 



They do not seem anywhere to associate in flocks of more than fifteen or 

 twenty, and from the rugged, shrubby chai'auter of the country they inhabit 

 they are not easily shot, except in the early morning, when they come out 

 into the roads and openings to feed. Tliey live on seeds, berries, and 

 insects, and are very good for the table. As witli the other species, more 

 are taken in traps than by tlie gun. AVhen liunted in the thick brush they 

 generally run some distance before flying, and tlien rise singly, scattering so 

 that only one can be killed at a shot. I have never seen them perch in 

 trees, like the otlier species. 



Lophortijx Cali/brnicus. 



