GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, QUAILS, ETC. 



121 



Fig. 190. Valley Partridge. 



are-you-ah? who-are-you-ali? strikes the ear as a subtle expression of 

 the difference between the hot low- 

 lands and the cool mountains. The 

 lowland bird has two forms differ- 

 ing slightly in color, the valley quail 

 occupying the arid sections and the 

 California the humid. 



The brushy parts of Golden Gate 

 Park in San Francisco abound with 

 quail, and from the benches one can 

 watch the squads of plump hen-like 

 little creatures as they move about 

 with stately tread or stand talking 

 sociably in low monosyllables. If 

 they hear a footstep on the walk they 

 start up and hurry across the path 

 like hens before a wagon, top- 

 knots dropped over their bills, necks 

 craned forward, and legs stretched as they patter along in double- 

 quick time. When less in a hurry they run in a stiff, prim way, the 

 cocks with a dignified gait, the hens with a demure feminine air. 



Outside the parks, when the flocks are feeding the old quail act 

 as sentries, to the wrath of young hunters, who complain that the 

 cocks ' tell on them ' ! 



As the country becomes settled, the former hordes of quail dis- 

 appear, but they are still the game-birds of southern California, the 

 roads are still patterned with their footprints, and through the val- 

 leys they are closely associated with the charm of the mellow Cali- 

 fornia days, their melodious who-are-you-ah f coming from the hill- 

 sides in the cool mornings when the high fog is dissolving into blue 

 sky, coming from the chaparral in the warm noonday hours, and 

 echoing softly from the vineyards through the quiet golden simsets. 



295. Lophortyx gambelii Gamb. GAMBEL PARTRIDGE. 



Adult male. Crest black, forehead and throat black, bordered by white, 

 crown reddish brown ; rest of upper parts 

 plain bluish gray, terfcials edged with 

 white ; breast gray, belly with buffy and 

 black patches, flanks reddish brown streaked 

 with white. Adult female : similar, but 

 without striking markings ; head plain 

 brownish gray above, buffy streaked with 

 darker on throat ; belly uniform buffy, flanks 

 chestnut. Young : chest brownish gray, 

 streaked with white ; upper parts grayish 

 brown, minutely mottled, feathers with 



Fig. 198. Female. 



white shaft streaks widening at tip and with black spot on either side ; 



