ZOOLOGY. 135 



tlie Atlantic and Pacific quails are nearly alike, and may be 

 represented by the syllables " hi-re-he." — " As a garae-bird," 

 says Dr. Newberry, " the Californian quail is inferior to the 

 Eastern one, though perhaps of equal excellence for the table. 

 It does not lie as Avell to the dog, and does not afibrd a good 

 sport. It also takes a tree more readily than the Atlantic 

 quail. Like its Eastern relative, the cock-bird is very fond of 

 sitting on some stump or log projecting above the grass and 

 weeds which conceal his mate and nest or brood, and espe- 

 cially in the early morning, uttering his peculiar cry." 



The plumed quail {Oreortyx pictus)^ likewise called the 

 " mountain quail," while the Lophortyx callforniciis is often 

 styled, the " valley quail," is peculiar to this coast, and is one of 

 the most beautiful features of its ornithology. It is a partridge 

 ten inches long, very plump in shape, handsome in color, ma- 

 jestic in its bearing, and graceful in motion. Its head is sur- 

 mounted by a crest of two straight feathers, three and a half 

 inches long, which hang backward, one immediately over the 

 other. The breast and neck are lead-colored, the upper parts 

 generally olive-brown ; the throat, and head beneath the eyes, 

 orange-chestnut ; the abdomen white. There are numerous 

 variegations of white, black, and minor shades, on the plumage, 

 all contributing to heighten its beauty. 



The mountain partridge lives in the hills and mountains, 

 from the Teion Pass to the Columbia River. Its sono^ sus;- 

 gests the sound represented by the word " whoit," whistled 

 fuller and louder than the song of the Californian quail. It 

 roosts upon the ground ; and if bushes be near, in which to 

 hide, it will rather run than fly from its enemies. It seldom 

 flies more than two hundred yards at a time. The cock is 

 equally attentive with the hen to the young brood, which usu- 

 ally varies from eight to twelve in number. The families seem 

 to be much attached to each other, and if they are scattered, 

 they are very uneasy until all are collected again. In such 

 cases, the hunter can entice them to come to him by imitating 

 the call of either old or young. They are easily domesticated 



