Dr. E. Coues — Field Notes on Lophortyx gambeli. 53 



only three, though there may be more. The first is the common 

 cry, uttered on all occasions of alarm, or to call or keep a bevy 

 together. It is a single, mellow, clear " chink," with somewhat 

 of a metallic resonance, quickly repeated an indefinite number of 

 times. I may remark, by the way, that it is so exactly similar 

 to the common note of Guiraca melanocephala, that I have been 

 more than once deceived. The next kind is a clear, loud, ener- 

 getic whistle, resembling, to my ear, the syllables " killink, kil- 

 link." This is chiefly heard during the pairing-season, when 

 the male in some secluded spot is busy paying his addresses to 

 and trying to win the favour of his chosen partner. It is 

 analogous to the " bob-white " that has earned for Ortyx vir- 

 ginianus its popular appellation. The last note is the "song" 

 proper of the species, though, if song it be called, it is so en- 

 tirely upon the principle of lucus a non lucendo ; for anything 

 more unmusical can hardly be imagined. It is uttered, I be- 

 lieve, only by the male, and only, I am also of opinion, when 

 the female is incubating, or attending to a very young brood. 

 At sunrise and sunset the song is cheerfully poured forth. 

 Mounted on the topmost twig of a scrub-oak or willow-bush, 

 near the spot where his mate is sitting on their joint treasures, 

 with outstretched neck, drooped wings, and plume dangling 

 negligently over one eye, he makes the place resound with his 

 odd, guttural, energetic notes. To me they sound something 

 like the cawing of a cachectic Crow weary of life, or perhaps in 

 love, a little mixed in tone with the cooing of a Dove. But 

 what matters it how awkwardly we may interpret his Anacreon- 

 tics, she, for whom they are intended, understands them well ; 

 and sweeter than all other sounds must they fall upon her ear, 

 assuring her of undiminished love and unwavering devotion. 



The elegant crest which forms so marked a feature of this 

 species becomes apparent at an exceedingly early age ; in fact 

 in chicks only a few days old it is readily discernible. It then 

 consists of a small, short tuft of three or four feathers, rather 

 brown than black, not growing larger towards their tips, and 

 directed straight backwards. It is some time before the feathers 

 become club-shaped and directed forwards ; indeed the change 

 is not complete until full maturity is attained. In the female, 



