THE PARTRIDGES. 25 



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 lat- 

 ter 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 starts 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 undergi-owth. They prefer seeds and fruit, but 

 insects also form a large part of their food. In the early 

 spring they feed extensively on the tender fresh buds of 

 }-oung willows, which give to their flesh a bitter taste. 



This Quail is said to have three distinct notes, — the com- 

 mon cry uttered on all occasions of alarm or to call the 

 bevy together, which is a single mellow clear "chink," 

 with a metallic resonance, repeated an indefinite number of 

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

 syllables killink-kilUnk^ chiefly heard during the pairing sea- 

 son, and is analogous to the hob-iohite of the common Quail ; 

 the third is its love-song, than which. Dr. Coues adds, noth- 

 ing 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 vigor- 

 4 



