520 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFOENIA 



carefully scrutinizing his surroundings for several minutes the kayrk 

 note was uttered several times in a low guttural tone. Soon members 

 of the flock were seen coming down the hill in the same direction as 

 taken by the sentinel, but their manner of approach was entirely 

 different ; he had exercised great caution and carefully examined 

 the surroundings for possible danger, while they came with their 

 plumed heads held low, searching among the clover roots for seeds 

 and other articles of food. Some preened and fluffed out their 

 feathers ; others took dust baths. While so occupied they all kept up 

 a succession of low conversational notes. Meanwhile the sentinel 

 remained on his perch and continued on the alert even after the 

 flock had moved some distance beyond him. Then a second bird 

 mounted a vantage point and took up the sentinel duty and after a 

 few minutes the first relinquished his post. While the flock was still 

 in view, yet a third bird relieved the second. It would seem that by 

 this practice, of establishing sentinels on a basis of divided labor, the 

 flock had increased its individual efficiency in foraging. The same 

 observer also states that he had seen sentinels used when a flock was 

 crossing a road, or when "bathing" in the roadside dust, and that the 

 practice is made general use of in open areas; but he had never 

 observed the habit when the birds were in tree-covered localities. 

 During the breeding season it is known that the male mounts guard 

 while the female is searching for a nesting site, and again when she 

 is incubating the eggs. Sometimes he also performs this guard func- 

 tion after the chicks are out but not fully grown. 



The large flocks in which the quail have associated during the 

 winter slowly break up during February and March and individual 

 pairs of birds are theit to be seen seeking nesting sites. ' ' In early 

 seasons they [Valley Quail] begin to pair in the last week of February, 

 but the time varies somewhat according to the season. During this 

 period there is considerable fighting among the males for the favor of 

 the coveted female. This is kept up until they are suitably mated 

 and the nesting season arrives" (Bendire, 1892, p. 28). Belding 

 (1879, p. 439) recites that he has seen males fighting fiercely, after 

 the manner of turkeys, the other members of the flock "appearing 

 to take great interest in the combat," and making much noise. 



The Valley Quail seems far from particular in the choice of a 

 nesting site. The grass-lined depression in the ground which usually 

 constitutes the nest, is commonly hidden under bushes, hedges, brush- 

 heaps, and logs. Less common sites are haycocks in open fields, or 

 shrubs or vines in gardens, and occasionally nests of other birds are 

 used. H. R. Taylor (1885, p. 142) records the finding of ten fresh 

 California Quail's eggs in a Spurred Towhee's nest in a cypress hedge 

 about four feet from the ground, and also two eggs of this quail in 



