eae Brown, Conditions of Bird Life in Arizona. 33 
clause protecting ‘Quail’ was stricken out. They were therefore 
exempted from its provisions, but two years later the law was 
amended in their behalf. Under a misapprehension the word 
‘partridge’ had been allowed to stand and prosecutions could 
have been had under it for the wanton destruction of these 
birds, but none were instituted as conviction would have been 
impossible. 
~The Mohawk valley, in Yuma county, is probably the most 
prolific breeding spot in the Territory. It was, at one time, a 
favorite place for trappers and pot-hunters, and it was not until 
the game law had been amended that their nefarious practices 
were broken up. In six weeks, in the fall of 1894, no less than 
1300 dozens were shipped to San Francisco and other California 
markets. The price at first realized, so I was told by the shippers, 
was $1.124 per dozen, but later 60 cents only were realized. The 
Quail were trapped, their throats cut, then sacked and shipped by 
express. I was told by one of the parties so engaged that he and 
his partner caught 77 dozens in one day. They used eight traps 
and baited with barley. Their largest catch in one trap, at one 
time, was 11 dozens. At the meeting of the next legislature the 
game law was again amended and it was made a misdemeanor to 
trap, snare or ship Quail or Partridges from the Territory. This 
effectually stopped the merciless slaughter of the gamiest bird in 
Arizona — Gambel’s Partridge. 
Carolina, White-winged, Inca, and Mexican Ground Doves are 
all common to southern Arizona. After the drouth, before referred 
to, these birds increased to large numbers in the cultivated dis- 
tricts, more especially the two former. This was due to no actual 
increase in the number of birds, but to lack of food elsewhere. 
They were destroyed by gunners in and out of season. They 
were, however, included in the amended game law of 1897, and 
are now protected between the first day of March and the first 
day of June. Another month is, I think, necessary to see them 
through the breeding season. The next legislature will be asked 
to extend the closed season to the first of July. 
In a country so widely uninhabited as this it is not possible to 
particularize much as to other birds, especially the migrants which 
come and go with each recurrent spring and fall. To many of 
3 
