126 aut.n's naturalist's library. 



taken up usually by any other male in the vicinity at the time. 

 During the mating-season the males fight with each other per- 

 sistently, and the victor defends his chosen home against in- 

 trusion with much valour. . . . 



" During the intense heat of the Arizona summers, Gambel's 

 Quail, like most other birds, prefers to remain in the shady 

 and cool spots in the creek bottoms, frequently perching in 

 the trees, and I believe the majority of these birds spend the 

 nights in them as well. They take to trees very readily at all 

 times." 



Nest. — A slight hollow scratched in the ground, usually lined 

 with bits of dry grass and sheltered by dead grass or old 

 brush; sometimes placed among grain-fields. Occasionally 

 nests are found in situations above the ground, the top of a 

 rotten stump or an old nest of some other species being made 

 use of. 



Eggs. — Generally from ten to twelve in number, but much 

 larger numbers are sometimes found, no doubt the p"oiuct of 

 more than one hen. Ground-colour creamy-white or pale-buff, 

 spotted, clouded, or blotched with reddish-brown or dark 

 brown. Average measurements, 1*26 by -96, 



III. Douglas's quail, lophortyx douglasl 

 Ortyx douglasii, Vigors; Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. xvi. p. 145 



(1828). 

 Ortyx elegaiis^ Lesson, Cent. Zool. p. 189, pi. 61 (1830). 

 Ortyx spihgaster, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 4. 

 Callipepla elegans^ Gould, Monogr. Odontoph. pt. i. pi. 18 



(1844). 

 Lophortyx douglasi, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p 



404(1893). 

 Callipepla ele^aiis bensoni, Ridgw. P. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 



148 (1887). 

 Adult Male.— Crest long and /^Z? rufous ; throat black, each 

 feather edged ivith white ; feathers of the back of the head. 



