CALIFORNIA OK VALLEY QUAILS 



The birds which have made a friend of Ruth, daughter of .Sujierin- 

 tendent Dirks of the State Game Farm of California, belong 

 to a different species from the "bob white" of the East; 

 their plumed heads lend them an air of particular dignity. 

 The California s])ecies gathers in large flocks, and has a gentle, 

 confiding disposition which makes it well suited to breeding 

 in captivity. From Job, "Propagation of Wild Birds." 

 (Fig. 9.) 



"When one has decided to raise 

 l)irds, the question is how to secure 

 breeding stock. In the case of various 

 foreign species, notably pheasants and 

 the gray or Hungarian partridge, these 

 are readily i>urchased. With native 

 sjK'cies, however, the case is different. 

 Most States have forbidden the shijj- 

 ment and sale of native game. There is 

 an occasional game commissioner or 

 chief warden who grants special ]Jor- 

 mission to secure a few birds for 

 jjropagation only. 



"Though there is a real difficulty at 

 present, the problem will undoubtedly 

 soon be solved. Laws are Ix-ing ])assed 

 in various States to encourage, under 

 ])roper sujK'rvision and regulation, the 

 jjropagation of game as an industry. 

 Many people are now making small 

 beginnings, and before long will have 



506 



breeding-stock for sale. The high j^rices 

 for live birds will for some time to come 

 make it more profitable to sell them for 

 breeding than for food purposes, except 

 with such common species as the ring- 

 necked pheasant and the mallard." 



A start could often be made with 

 birds taken in the hunting .season 

 slightly woimded in the wing. Some- 

 times jjcrmission has been given to take 

 a few eggs, which can then be hatched 

 under a bantam. It is also possible 

 to secure some birds, jjarticularly quail, 

 from Mexico, and contrary to expecta- 

 tion these have jjroved quite hardy in 

 New York State. 



Breeding the native quail or bob- 

 white on a large .scale is decidedly to be 

 recommended the author says, in view 

 of the value of the bird to agriculturists 

 as well as to sportsman. The jaroblems 



