PERDICID Ji — THE PARTRIDGES — LOPUORTYX. 



555 



house for protection. Another hiid its eggs in the hen-house, which were 

 soon hatched by a hen, which, however, immediately killed the young, per- 

 haps considering them helpless dwarfs. These eggs required as much as 

 twenty-four days to hatch, which is, however, less than those of the Eastern 

 quail, said to need four weeks. 



I obtained the first eggs March 2Gth, and as late as May 25th saw a nest 

 witli foui'teen eggs on which the hen was sitting. It was formed like that 

 of tlie California quail, but more carefully, being well hued witli soft grass 

 bent around in a circle about eighteen inches wide, and concealed under a 

 tuft of tall grass. 



The young when hatched are jDrettily marked with several brown stripes 

 on a yellow ground like many chickens, but have also little crests of downy 

 plumes. 



The eggs present all the varieties shown by those of the coast bird, and in 

 fact are scarcely distinguishable from them. They measure 1.18 to 1.22 X 

 0.90 to 0.98 inch. 



As a game-bird this species is also similar to the California quail, though 

 perhaps less inclined to fly, and rarely if ever taking to trees. Its flesh is 

 similar, thougli, from the more barren districts it inhabits, generally drier 

 and more insipid, probably also tougher. 



Genus CALLIPEPLA, Wagler. 



Callipepla, Wagler, Isis, 1832. (Tvpf, Orlt/r squamata. Vigors.) 



Gen. Cii.\r. Iload with a short depressed tufted crest of soft thick feathers springing 

 from the vertex. Other characters as in Loplwrli/x. 



C squamata. 



The single United States species is of a bluish tint, without any marked 

 contrast of color. The feathers of the neck, breast, and belly have a narrow 

 edging of black. 



