THE MASSENA OR MONTEZUMA QUAIL 

 (Cyrtonyx Montezuma) 



The Massena, or Montezuma quail, is a distinct genus 

 from the blue quail family. In many respects it resem- 

 bles the bobwhite in color, though far more fancifully 

 marked. It is also nearly one-half larger, though in 

 some parts of Arizona and in New Mexico there is a 

 smaller species of the same genus known as fool quail. 

 The Mexican bird is far from a fool, and although it 

 roosts on the ground like the bobwhite, it is resource- 

 ful enough to take care of itself in a country where 

 vermin of all kinds are very plentiful. Its range is from 

 near the northern boundary south through the larger 

 portion of Mexico. 



The Montezuma quail is emphatically a grass bird 

 and inhabits the grassy foothills and the cultivated 

 fields, where it affords fine sport with a dog. It is very 

 cosmopolitan as to climate, for it is found at altitudes 

 of from five to six thousand feet, where considerable 

 snow falls, as well as in the foothills of the hot, trop- 

 ical valleys of the lowlands, and thrives equally well in 

 all sections. It is a bird of peculiar habits. When 

 startled by the approach of an enemy the bevy at once 

 huddles together, where the birds remain motionless 

 until they are approached to within from one to four 

 feet, according to the cover they are in. If they think 

 that they have not been seen or that the object of their 

 alarm is going to pass by, there is not the slightest 

 motion made by any one of them, but when they decide 

 to take wing for safety every bird in perfect unison 

 springs into the air to a height of about six feet and 

 darts rapidly away. They are quick on the wing and 

 seem able to carry away a good deal of shot. The 

 flight generally is not more than one hundred yards, 

 and when they alight they scatter well and will then 

 out-hide any bird that lives. I have both ridden and 

 walked, without a dog, for hours through a country 

 where they were plentiful without seeing a bird, except 

 where I chanced to nearly step upon them, yet with a 

 dog I have found on the same grounds probably an 

 average of fifteen bevies to the square mile. For work 

 with a dog I prefer them to any bird I have ever hunted. 

 They give out a strong scent, for points on bevies of 

 from six to fifteen birds, made thirty to forty yards 

 away are no uncommon occurrence. Then when you 

 walk in front of your dog they never flush until you 

 have almost stepped upon them. A scattered bevy will 

 lie securely hid until each individual is flushed. 

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