THE ELEGANT QUAIL 

 (Callipepla elegans) 



Along the western slope of the Sierra Madre range 

 in the state of Sonora, Mexico, is to be found another 

 member of the blue quail family whose habits appeal 

 strongly to the sportsman. This species, known as the 

 elegant quail, is one of the most handsomely marked of 

 the group. From the blending of the white throat of 

 the bobwhite with the black one of the gambel, and 

 the brown of the back of the one with the blue of the 

 other, together with a marked resemblance in its call 

 to that of the bobwhite, suggests the possibility of its 

 origin having resulted from a cross of the two genera. 

 I may add that both the gambel and a species of the 

 Collinus, bobwhite, are found in this same section. 



The elegant quail is generally found in and around 

 thfe cultivated fields which they seem to prefer to the 

 open country. While the elegant quail will walk leisure- 

 ly in front of their pursuer until too closely approached, 

 they can in no sense be termed runners. When flushed 

 they take to cover and lie closely. Like all the quail 

 of Mexico they have been hunted but little and need to 

 be well scared before they become properly educated 

 to the gun. After a few days' hunting I found them a 

 very satisfactory game bird. Being found around the 

 fields, the grounds and cover were all that could be 

 desired for excellent sport. 



Color Male Plume straight, upright feathers about 

 an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half in length, 

 varying in color possibly on account of age from a 

 light lemon to a dark reddish orange. The throat is 

 finely mottled with small black and white dots, giving 

 it a dark gray appearance. The general color of the 

 back and the wing and tail coverts is a dark blue with 

 about half of the exposed portion of each feather tipped 

 with a bright, rich brown. The breast and abdomen is 

 a light, ashy blue, profusely flecked with large, circular 

 white spots. 



Female The plume is about two-thirds the length of 

 that of the male, brown in color and barred with black. 

 The breast and abdomen are spotted like the male but 

 the back is much the color of the English snipe. 



Nest and Eggs The same as the other species of the 

 blue quail. 



Measurements Same as the valley quail. 

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