MASSENA PARTRIDGE. 



1/ NOWN in the territories it frequents within our bor- 

 ders as the Black, Black-belHed, and Fool Quail, the 

 Massena Partridge is the most fantastically colored of all 

 the family to which it belongs, with a head striped and 

 marked like that of the clown in a pantomime. It is 

 however, a very handsome bird, though bizarre in its 

 pattern of coloration, and would attract attention wher- 

 ever seen. It ranges in more or less abundance from 

 western Texas in the vicinity of San Antonio, through 

 New Mexico, and into Arizona as far as Fort Whipple, 

 which is about its western limit. It has been observed 

 in the upper Rio Grande valley near Taos, and south of 

 our limits inhabits northwestern Mexico, ranging upon 

 the mountains at varying elevations of from 4000 

 to over 9000 feet. It seems to be more of a bird of the 

 hills than are most of the other species of Partridge, 

 and prefers the high mesas and valleys that lead up 

 into the lofty mountain ranges. In the United States 

 I do not think this Partridge can be called abundant 

 anywhere, and the localities in which it is found are 

 apparently restricted; whether or not on account of some 

 especial food it subsists upon I am unable to say. When 

 met with it is generally in small bunches, as if composed 

 of one family, and the birds are extremely gentle and 

 confiding, hardly moving out of the way of either man 

 or beast. At times this species seems to be entirely 

 insensible to fear, and when approached suddenly, either 

 squats down on the ground or walks a few steps to one 



69 



