THE CALIFORNIA QUAIL. 569 



Authorities. — L. caUfornica, Bonap., Cooper and Suckley, Rep. Pac. R. R. 

 Surv. XII. pt. II. i860, p. 225. L'. Ra. Kk. B. E. 

 Specimens. — (U. of W.) Prov. B. E. 



THE name Painted Quail has been given to another of our North Ameri- 

 can partridges, but it could scarcely have been more deserving of the title than 

 the subject of this sketch. The female, as is usual in most birds, is rather dull 

 in coloring, but the male is truly a beauty. His lower parts, from bill to tail, 

 are one continuous contrast : jet black, purest white, old gold, chestnut, silver, 

 and other colors have been laid on by no uncertain hand. In fact, Dame 

 Nature seems to have used him for a palette in making up some of her most 

 brilliant cloud effects. 



This bird and its near relative, the Valley Partridge, are not natives of 

 Washington ; but, like the Mountain and the Plumed Partridge, were intro- 

 duced here from the State of California. Dr. Suckley, one of our pioneer 

 naturalists, tells us that as early as 1857 two shipments of birds were turned 

 out in the vicinity of Puget Sound by Gov. Charles H. Mason and a Mr. 

 Goldsborough. Conditions seem to have proved most suitable for them, since, 

 in the face of constant persecution, they continued to increase in numljers, 

 spreading their ranks over new territory every year. 



Altho often found in dry, bushy uplands, they are much more inclined to 

 damp localities than the ^Mountain Partridge, their favorite haunts being the 

 low ground of the river valleys. Here they may be found searching for seeds 

 in the weed-patches of the open fields, or gleaning amongst the growing cab- 

 bages, beans, and other vegetables of the farmer's garden. Indeed, few birds 

 are so much the friends of the farmer as ovu" partridges, for their food con- 

 sists almost entirelv of weed-seeds, worms, beetles, grass-hoppers, and other 

 insects. What little of the newly-sown crops they ma}' eat is repaid a thousand 

 fold by the vast amount of good they accomplish. 



Many years' accjuaintance with the human race has shown them the value 

 of discretion, and they have, consequently, developed no small degree of fore- 

 sight. Wherever a flock is found there is alwa}-s a dense stretch of brush or 

 heavy timber close by ; and, when frightened, the birds all rise at once, and 

 promptly make for this haven of refuge. Unlike the Mountain Partridge, thev 

 very seldom fly into a tree, generally preferring to conceal themselves in the 

 thick undergrowth, where they evade capture by hiding and running. 



Their call notes are totally unlike those of our other Washington par- 

 tridges. They seldom or never whistle ; the challenge of the male in spring 

 closely resembles the concluding remarks of our barnyard biddy when she has 

 laid an tgg. This crowing, or cackling note, closely assimilates to the syllables, 

 kitkzi'akuk, kukivdkitk, kukwdkuk, strongly accented on the middle member of 



