THE CALIFORNIAN QUAILS. 123 
California I was told by the Indians and naiive Mexicans 
that during very dry seasons the Valley Quail did not nest, 
but remained in large flocks during the entire summer. This 
statement I was able to verify by personal observations during 
the summer of 1887. These birds were seen by me in large 
flocks throughout the spring and summer months, and only 
two or three broods of young were noticed. Birds taken 
during April, May, and June showed but little development of 
the ovaries. Should the winter rains, however, be sufficient 
to insure an abundance of seeds and grasses, the coveys begin 
to break up early in March, and from every hill in the land 
the loud challenge of the male is heard. . . . By far the 
most common call at all seasons is one resembling ‘ ca-ra-ho,’ 
repeated four or five times, and the accent shifted from one 
syllable to another as suits the fancy of the performer.” 
Mr. William Proud, writing from Butte County, California, 
informs Captain Bendire as follows :—“ In early seasons they 
begin to pair in the last week of February, but the time 
varies somewhat according to the season. During this period 
there is considerable fighting among the males for the favour 
of the coveted female. This is kept up until all are suit- 
ably mated and the nesting-season arrives. This usually 
begins here about the last week in March, when the pairs 
scatter among the shrubbery along the banks of creeks 
and in adjacent ravines, along hedgerows and brush fences, 
and on the borders of cultivated fields. The earliest nest I 
ever found was on March 15th, and on April r5th I met 
young birds probably a couple of days old. I consider four- 
teen eggs to be about the average number laid by these birds, 
and have found as many as twenty-four ina nest. The large 
sets I attribute to other hens laying in the nest, probably young 
birds which have failed to make preparation for their own eggs. 
On May 21 my dog pointed a Valley Partridge ona nest 
which contained twenty-two eggs, and every one hatched. 
“ During incubation the male is very attentive and watchful, 
