PERDICID^ — THE PARTRIDGES. 485 



Territory he came vipon a brood that was just out of the egg. They were 

 however, so active, and hid themselves so dexterously, that he could not 

 catch one. This was late in July, and throughout the following month he 

 met broods only a few days old. The following sj^ring he found the old 

 birds mated by April 25, and met with the first chick on the first of June. 

 He infers that this species is in incubation during the whole of May, June, 

 July, and a part of August, and that they raise two, and even three, broods 

 in a season. 



A single brood sometimes embraces from fifteen to twenty young, which 

 by October are nearly as large as their parents. While under the care of 

 the latter they keep very close together, and when alarmed either run away 

 rapidly or squat so closely as to be difficult to flush, and, when forced up, 

 they soon alight again. They often take to low limbs of trees, huddle 

 closely together, and permit a close approach. The first intimation that a 

 bevy is near is a single note repeated two or three times, followed by the 

 rustling of leaves as the flock start to run. 



These birds are said to be found in almost every locality except thick 

 pine-woods without undergrowth, and are particularly fond of thick willow 

 ■copses, heavy chaparral, and briery undergrowth. They prefer seeds and 

 fruit, but insects also form a large part of their food. In the early spring 

 tliey feed extensively on the tender fresli buds of young willows, which 

 give to their flesh a bitter taste. 



This Quail is said to have three distinct notes, — the common cry uttered 

 on all occasions of alarm or to call the bevy together, which is a single mel- 

 low clear " chink," with a metallic resonance, repeated an indefinite number 

 of times ; then a clear, loud, energetic whistle, resembling the syllables 

 hillink-killink, chiefly heard during the pairing-season, and is analogous to 

 the hoh-white of the common Quail ; the third is its love-song, than which. 

 Dr. Coues adds, nothinu' more unmusical can well be imagined. It is 

 uttered by the male, and only when the female is incubating. This song is 

 poured forth both at sunrise and at sunset, from some topmost twig near 

 the spot where his mate is sitting on her treasures ; and with outstretched 

 neck, drooping wings, and plume negligently dangling, he gives utterance to 

 his odd, guttural, energetic notes. 



The flight of these birds is exceedingly rapid and vigorous, and is always 

 even and direct, and in shooting only requires a quick hand and eye. 



In his journey from Arizona to the Pacific, Dr. Coues found these birds 

 singularly abundant along tlie valley of the Colorado ; and he was again 

 struck with its indifference as to its place of residence, being ecpially at 

 home in scorched mesquite thickets, dusting it.self in sand that would blis- 

 ter the naked feet, the thermometer at 117° Fah. in the shade, and in the 

 mountains of Northern Arizona, when the pine boughs were bending under 

 the weight of the snow. He also states tliat Dr. Cooper, while at Fort 

 Mohave, brought up some young Gambel's Quails by placing the eggs under 



