MASSENA PARTRIDGE. 
ON in the territories it frequents within our bor- 
ders as the Black, Black-bellied, and Fool Quail, the 
Massena Partridge is the most fantastically colored of all 
the family to which it belongs, with a head striped and 
marked like that of the clown in a pantomime. It is 
however, a very handsome bird, though bizarre in its 
pattern of coloration, and would attract attention wher- 
ever seen. It ranges in more or less abundance from 
western Texas in the vicinity of San Antonio, through 
New Mexico, and into Arizona as far as Fort Whipple, 
which is about its western limit. It has been observed 
in the upper Rio Grande valley near Taos, and south of 
our limits inhabits northwestern Mexico, ranging upon 
the mountains at varying elevations of from 4000 
to over gooo feet. It seems to be more of a bird of the 
hills than are most of the other species of Partridge, 
and prefers the high mesas and valleys that lead up 
into the lofty mountain ranges. In the United States 
I do not think this Partridge can be called abundant 
anywhere, and the localities in which it is found are 
apparently restricted; whether or not on account of some 
especial food it subsists upon [am unable to say. When 
met with it is generally in small bunches, as 1f composed 
of one family, and the birds are extremely gentle and 
confiding, hardly moving out of the way of either man 
or beast. At times this species seems to be entirely 
insensible to fear, and when approached suddenly, either 
squats down on the ground or walks a few steps to one 
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