THE CALIFORNIAN QUAILS. 1 25 



with white centres. Total length, 9*8 inches; wings, 5; tail, 

 4; tarsus, I '3; middle toe and claw, 1*55. 



Adult Female. — Differs from the female of Z. californiais in 

 having the crest considerably more developed ; 710 white spots 

 on the back of the neck ; the chest-feathers with dark shafts ; 

 no black margins to the feathers of the breast and belly, and 

 the flanks chestnut with white centres. Rather smaller in size. 



Range. — Western States of North America ; extending north 

 to Utah, south to the State of Sonora, North Mexico, west- 

 ward to South California, and east to Arizona and Western 

 Texas. 



Hatits. — From Captain Bendire's splendid work, " Life 

 Histories of North American Birds," the following notes on 

 this species are taken : — ■" Wherever water is found, Gambel's 

 Partridge is common throughout Southern Arizona up to 

 an altitude of 5,000 feet ; and in New Mexico Mr. W. H. 

 Cobb, of Albuquerque, informs me that he met with young 

 fledglings in the pine forests at an altitude of 8,000 to 

 9,000 feet. . . . During the mating- and breeding-season, 

 the former commencing usually in the latter part of February, 

 the latter about the first week in April, and occasionally 

 later, according to the season, the male frequently utters a 

 call like Vyuk-kae-ja, yuk-kae-ja,' each syllable distinctly 

 articulated and the last two somewhat drawn out. A trim, 

 handsome, and proud - looking cock, whose more sombre- 

 coloured mate had a nest close by, used an old mesquite 

 stump, about four feet high, and not more than twenty feet 

 from my tent, as his favourite perch, and I had many excellent 

 opportunities to watch him closely. Standing perfectly erect, 

 with his beak straight up in the air, his tail slightly spread, and 

 wings somewhat drooping, he uttered this call in a clear strong 

 voice every few minutes for half an hour or so, or until dis- 

 turbed by something, and this he repeated several times a day. 

 I cor^'ider it a call of challenge, or of exultation, and it was 



