VALLEY PARTRIDGE: 
ALER in color than its relative of the coast, the 
present race inhabits the interior of Oregon, Nevada, 
and California as far to the southward as Cape St. Lucas, 
frequents the valleys and foothills of the mountains, and 
ascending the latter in Lower California to an elevation 
of about 8000 or gooo feet. It is found on both slopes of 
the Sierra Nevada, and goes east to Death Valley, and 
along the Mojave River until it reaches the western limits 
of Gambel’s Partridge. In the upper part of the Willa- 
mette Valley, Oregon, it is abundant, but in the lower 
part is supplanted by the California Partridge. It has 
been introduced into Utah, and flourished there in all 
suitable localities. It withstands cold very well, for Ben- 
dire states (Life Hist. N. Am. B. p. 27), that in the upper 
Klamath Valley, Oregon, he found a small covey, 
which passed successfully through the winter of 1882, 
though the thermometer registered more than once con- 
siderably below zero, and the next spring there were two 
coveys of half-grown birds. In Lower California very 
dry seasons occasionally occur, and it is a rather singular 
fact, and this has been proved by several careful 
observers, that during such periods the Valley Quail do 
not breed, but the large flocks that are formed during the 
autumn remain unbroken all summer. The cause of this 
curious condition of affairs may be the scarcity of seeds 
and tender grasses, which from lack of moisture have not 
appeared in the customary abundance. However, if the 
winter rainfall has been of the usual quantity, then the 
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