569 
Authorities.—L. californica, Bonap., Cooper and Suckley, Rep. Pac. R. R. 
Syoinis DOU jos IME suse}, jo, Bas, IIR Ike 1 dap 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. B. E. 
THE name Painted Quail has been given to another of our North Ameri- 
can partridges, but it could scarcely have been more deserving of the title than 
the subject of this sketch. The female, as is usual in most birds, is rather dull 
in coloring, but the male is truly a beauty. His lower parts, from bill to tail, 
are one continuous contrast: jet black, purest white, old gold, chestnut, silver, 
and other colors have been laid on by no uncertain hand. In fact, Dame 
Nature seems to have used him for a palette in making up some of her most 
brilliant cloud effects. 
This bird and its near relative, the Valley Partridge, are not natives of 
Washington; but, like the Mountain and the Plumed Partridge, were intro- 
duced here from the State of California. Dr. Suckley, one of our pioneer 
naturalists, tells us that as early as 1857 two shipments of birds were turned 
out in the vicinity of Puget Sound by Gov. Charles H. Mason and a Mr. 
Goldsborough. Conditions seem to have proved most suitable for them, since, 
in the face of constant persecution, they continued to increase in numbers, 
spreading their ranks over new territory every year. 
Altho often found in dry, bushy uplands, they are much more inclined to 
damp locahties than the Mountain Partridge, their favorite haunts being the 
low ground of the river valleys. Here they may be found searching for seeds 
in the weed-patches of the open fields, or gleaning amongst the growing cab- 
bages, beans, and other vegetables of the farmer’s garden. Indeed, few birds 
are so much the friends of the farmer as our partridges, for their food con- 
sists almost entirely of weed-seeds, worms, beetles, grass-hoppers, and other 
insects. What little of the newly-sown crops they may eat is repaid a thousand 
fold by the vast amount of good they accomplish. 
Many years’ acquaintance with the human race has shown them the value 
of discretion, and they have, consequently, developed no small degree of fore- 
sight. Wherever a flock is found there is always a dense stretch of brush or 
heavy timber close by; and, when frightened, the birds all rise at once, and 
promptly make for this haven of refuge. Unlike the Mountain Partridge, they 
very seldom fly into a tree, generaily preferring to conceal themselves in the 
thick undergrowth, where they evade capture by hiding and running. 
Their call notes are totally unlike those of our other Washington par- 
tridges. They seldom or never whistle; the challenge of the male in spring 
closely resembles the concluding remarks of our barnyard biddy when she has 
laid anegg. This crowing, or cackling note, closely assimilates to the syllables, 
kukwakuk, kukwakuk, kukwakuk, strongly accented on the middle member of 
