28 Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas. 



nients of the troops stationed there) told nie that they had 

 shot some California Quail near Devil's River. They might, 

 however, have been Gambel's Quail, which certainly is found 

 there. 



LoPHORTYx GAMBELi (Nuttall). Gambel's Quail. 



Not a Common bird in Texas, and found only in certain 

 localities. At Muddy Creek, near Fort Clarke, they are not 

 uncommon, and are also found near the Nueces River. 



Callipepla squamata (Vigors). Blue Quail. 



On the Rio Grande above Roma, and between the Rio Grande 

 and the Rio Nueces, this Quail is abundant, and where it is 

 found seems to have the country to itself, to the exclusion of 

 the other species. I found them most difficult to shoot; for 

 when a bevy was disturbed the birds would scatter themselves, 

 and, running with outstretched necks and erected crests, would 

 dodge through the bushes like rabbits, so as soon to be out of 

 reach. I have seen a bevy of ten to fifteen so completely dis- 

 appear that I could not find a single one of them. If left un- 

 disturbed they commence their call-note (which is not unlike 

 the chirp of a chicken), and soon reunite. 



At first I could not bring myself to fire at them on the ground, 

 but, finding it impossible to get them to rise, I soon gave up 

 fair play, and must plead guilty to several shots into bevies 

 when, unmindful of danger, they were collected under a cactus 

 or a bush. Near the small villages in Mexico I have found 

 them very tame; and at Prosilio, on the Rio Grande, I noticed 

 them in a corral, feeding with some poultry. I have never seen 

 their eggs, but am told by the Mexicans that they are dull white, 

 with minute reddish spots at the larger end. 



Professor Baird, in his work on the ' Birds of North America,^ 

 speaks (page 64<7) of a specimen of this species from New Leon 

 having " a large brownish chestnut spot on the middle of the 

 belly," and thus differing from other skins. In all adult males 

 I shot, both in Texas and Mexico, I noticed this chestnut patch, 

 and sometimes to a slight extent in the females also. 



Male. Bill blackish ; legs bluish-grey ; iris dark brown. Sto- 

 mach containing small mezquite beans. 



