Partridges and Quails of North Ajncrica. 91 



a sui generis Chinese smell, and will not produce any ptomaine 

 poisoning-. Green grass is also relished by the young as well 

 as by the older Quails, and is a necessity instead of a luxury. 

 California Valley Quails born in March, April or May will breed 

 the following spring, and when raised in captivity are exceed- 

 ingly tame, though subject, however, to a gastro-intestinal 

 disease, which is dreaded by all the breeders, as it exterminates 

 entire flocks inside of a few days. There is no known 

 preventive for this epidemic. 



The (iAMBEL OuML ( Lopliortyx ganibeli), also known 

 as the Desert Quail or /\rizona Quail, closely resembles in form 

 the California \'alley Quail, but differs a great deal in plumage, 

 which is ceitainly prettier and brighter in the (iambel. 



IY.~CALLIPEFLA. 



The Callipepla or Shell Quail has the general character- 

 istics of the Lophortyx with a short, full, soft crest, nothing- 

 comparable to the elegant helmet-plumes or pompons of the 

 precedent genus. 



The Scaled Quail (Callipcpla sqiiamata), called also the 

 Blue Quail, is found in Western Texas. Xew Mexico and 

 Arizona, and south far into Mexico. It breeds fronv March to 

 September, and is exclusively a desert Cjuail. inhabiting the 

 most arid, cactus-ridden regions, often far from water, some- 

 times keeping company with the (iambel Quail. 



The Chestnut-bellied Scaled Quail (Callipcpla 

 sqiiamata castanogastris) is also called the Brewster Quail. 

 Concerning- his scientific name our distinguished American 

 ornithologist, Elliott Cones, says justly " a preferable form of 

 the name of that Quail would be eastaiieiz-eiitris or castaiicivcti- 

 tcr as in the British Museum catalogue. i^'93. p. 396. 'iliis 

 sub-species of the Scaled Quail is found in the Lower Rio Grande 

 Valley of Texas, and southward in the lowlands of north-easterii 

 Mexico, as far as San Luis Potosi. 



v.- -CVRTONYX. 



The Cyrtonyx or Harlecjuin Quail is so named on account 



