50° GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
appeared to act as a leader, though occasionally in their 
haste the main body would overtake him, and then for 
a space they would continue on bunched up all together, 
gradually straggling out again into a long line. The 
body was held very erect and stiff while running, the tail 
almost touching the ground, and the white crest was 
spread out in a fan shape, showing very conspicuously. 
This bird runs with great speed, and seems to be able to 
keep it up for a long distance, and flies with much reluc- 
tance, alighting almost immediately and beginning to run 
at once. When compelled to take wing, it rises with the 
usual whir-r-r, and proceeds on a slightly curved line, 
rarely straight ahead, and if, on alighting, it should stop 
for a moment, it is always under the cover of some cactus 
or other low bush, which affords a place of concealment, 
and from which it can watch its pursuer, before starting 
to run again. 
A dog is practically useless for hunting the Scaled 
Partridge, for if he is well broken and attempts to point a 
covey, the birds will run several hundred yards while he 
is standing, and then will add several hundred more, 
while he is trailing them, and the poor animal becomes 
bewildered and disgusted and is apt to run also. I know 
nothing so trying to the patience of a sportsman as the 
tactics of this species, unless it be the similar habits of 
other Crested Quail. Asa rule this species was not very 
much hunted in the localities I met with it, and it always 
seemed to me rather singular that they should be so 
wary, for that is an attribute that wild creatures usually 
acquire after having made the acquaintance of man and 
learned that his presence always brought wounds and 
death, and that safety to themselves was only to be ob- 
tained by leaving his vicinity as soon as possible. But 
these birds seem instinctively to have ascertained this 
