122 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



covered side hills, and canons, and they frequent the roads, 

 cultivated fields, vineyards, and edges of clearings to feed. 

 It is a constant resident, and breeds wherever found. 



" The mating time commences early in March, sometimes 

 later, depending on the season. Then the large packs into 

 which this species gathers in the fall of the year, break up 

 gradually, each pair of birds selecting a suitable nesting-site. 

 In the more densely settled portions of California, this Partridge 

 is by no means as common now as it was a decade ago, when 

 it was not unusual to see packs numbering five hundred and 

 more together, while now, at least near the larger cities, coveys 

 even of fifty birds are rarely seen. In localities where it is 

 not constantly harassed and hunted, the Californian Partridge 

 becomes surprisingly tame and confiding, in fact almost domes- 

 ticated ; and under such circumstances many nest close to 

 houses and out-buildings and in the shrubbery of gardens ad- 

 joining human habitations. 



*' The young run about as soon as they arc hatched. Usually 

 but one brood is raised, occasionally two. In the latter case 

 the male takes charge of the young when they are about three 

 weeks old, the female then laying the eggs for the second. 

 Downy young have been observed as early as the 20th of May 

 in tlie southern portions of their range, and some broods are 

 undoubtedly hatched still earlier. In the fall, when the yoi'.ng 

 are full grown and able to shift for themselves, they collect 

 in large packs, a number of coveys associating together until 

 the spring. They are much shyer then, and more difficult to 

 approach. The usual call-note, when one of these packs be- 

 comes scattered, is a rather unmusical * ca-ape, ca-ape,' the 

 last syllable drawn out; another note, like 'ka-kaah,' is also 

 used on such occasions." 



Mr. A. W. Anthony writes about the Lower California birds 

 as follows : — " I found the Valley Partridge (Californian Quail) 

 very common in the mountains of Lower California, up to ar> 

 altitude of about 9,000 feet. Both in Southern and Lower 



