228 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 10 



Oxyechus vociferus (Linnaeus) 



Killdeer 



Seen on various occasions in the moister portions of Hemet 

 Valley, between Hemet Lake and Kenworthy. They were not 

 numerous, but some were ordinarily noted whenever we traversed 

 these spots, as happened on several occasions between .May 1!» 

 and July 5, and they were probably breeding here. At liemel 

 Lake in August they were abundant, frequenting the sparsely 

 covered meadows on the north side and the mud flats at the east 

 end. Three specimens were taken at the lake (nos. 2943 2945 . 

 August 7 and 15, probably birds of the year. 



Oreortyx picta plumifera (Gould) 

 Mountain Quail 



Of general distribution in the higher parts of the mountains. 

 though seldom observed in any numbers. Near Kenworthy 

 toward the end of May, small flocks of old and young together 

 were frequently seen in the surrounding foothills, bu1 never in 

 the sage-covered valley. Near the summit of Santa Rosa Peak, 

 the end of June, several small flocks composed entirely of adults, 

 were seen. Not encountered in Si raw berry Valley, though the 

 species musl occur there, hut fairly numerous in the nearby 

 Tahquitz Valley al the end of July. At Hemet Lake, in August, 

 they were frequently seen in the rougher, more broken ground 

 toward the lower end of the lake, but never in the open valley 

 at the upper end. where Lophortyx C. vallicola was common. On 

 Thomas Mountain, the middle of August, mountain quail were 

 abundant, large (locks of nearly full-grown young being flushed 

 at many points along the ridge. 



The party collecting on the northern slopes of the San 



Jacinto Mountains did not n t with the species until the vicinity 



of Schain's Ranch was reached. At this point and at Puller's 

 Mill, the latter part of dune. Hocks of old and young together 

 were seen occasionally, and specimens collected. 



Near the east base of the mountains, at points in the lower 

 reaches of Palm Canon, and in the vicinity id' Deep Canon, 

 mountain quail were several times observed amid the most arid. 



