VALLEY QUAIL 271 



when unusually excited, the note then sounding like that made by striking 

 a long wire strung between two supports. Often in the afternoon and 

 early evening, as they came down from the dry hillsides to quench their 

 thirst at the creek, two or three pairs would be in sight at once. The 

 males seemed more than ordinarily solicitous at this time. Near Lagrange 

 one was seen following along close behind his mate as she foraged in an 

 open field. Then while she hunted through the long grass at the roadside 

 he perched with drooping topknot on a convenient fence post and watched 

 all about. When she was ready to cross the road he flew down and led 

 her across and then the two disappeared into other forage grounds in the 

 field beyond. 



Mr. Donald D. McLean, residing at Smith Creek, on the Coulterville 

 Road, says that the nesting season of the Valley Quail extends until harvest 

 time, in July. When the broods are full-grown, old and young associate 

 together in flocks, and two or more families join into single bands number- 

 ing 25 to 50 or more. In the autumn, Valley and Mountain quail have 

 been seen together in the Smith Creek country in mixed flocks numbering 

 50 or more individuals. 



The flocks of Valley Quail do not appear to decrease as rapidly in late 

 fall and early winter as do those of the Mountain Quail. Flocks of 10 to 

 30 birds were seen by us on a number of occasions in January and Febru- 

 ary. Since trapping by man for fur-bearing animals (carnivores), the 

 natural enemies of the quail, is now more intensive in the range of the 

 valley bird, the pressure from enemies is probably somewhat lessened in the 

 winter season. The absence of snow is also a factor, permitting the birds 

 to forage far and wide throughout the year. The hardest pinch comes 

 for the quail in early spring, when the seed and berry crops are approach- 

 ing exhaustion, and before the new growth of the coming year is available. 

 It is in this same early spring season that most of the carnivorous mammals 

 and raptorial birds rear their young, and hence are put to the necessity 

 of providing greater quantities of food for themselves and their offspring. 

 Because the quail is a favorite food of Wildcats and Gray Foxes, and also 

 of Cooper Hawks and Horned Owls, the quail population is subject to 

 relatively greater persecution at this most critical period. 



When foraging, quail work in a quiet but industrious manner, each 

 individual moving forward independently, yet keeping within easy call 

 of one another, each contributing to a general murmur of low conversa- 

 tional notes. They are quick to take advantage of easily obtained food 

 such as may be provided in ranch yards. For example, at the McCarthy 

 Ranch east of Coulterville, Valley Quail are to be seen at almost all times 

 of the year, foraging industriously in the barnyard chaff. 



