The American Museum Journal 



Vol. IV. OCTOBER, 1904. No. 4 



NEW GROUPS OF GAME BIRDS. 



|HE acquisition of a complete series of groups of North 

 American game birds showing the nests with their 

 natural surroundings, and eggs or young birds, has 

 been rendered possible through the generosity of 

 friends of the Museum. The Ruffed Grouse, 

 Bob-white and Woodcock being local species, they have been for 

 some time represented in our group collections, but with the 

 funds now available it is proposed to add the game birds of other 

 parts of the country. 



Three groups of the proposed series have already been placed 

 upon exhibition, the California Valley and Mountain Partridges, 

 or "Quail," (Lophortyx calif ornicus and Oreortyx pictus plumi- 

 ferus), and the Sierra Dusky or Blue Grouse. In each instance 

 a pair of adult birds is shown with their nest, young and a photo- 

 graph of the nesting site. 



The young in the group of Valley Partridge, or " Valley Quail, " 

 as it is commonly called in California, are less than a day old, but 

 their well-grown, downy plumage illustrates very well the high 

 degree of development attained by the young of all gallinaceous 

 birds before hatching. The young in the Mountain Partridge, 

 or "Mountain Quail," group are probably a week older, but 

 already have acquired their second plumage and with it the 

 power of flight. The young of the Grouse are in a corresponding 

 stage of plumage. 



As to color it will be observed that the plumage of the young 

 of all three species is of dull neutral tints which render the chicks 

 inconspicuous through a more or less close resemblance to the 

 prevailing tone of their surroundings. The female Grouse is also 

 protectively colored and differs strikingly in plumage from her 



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