DIVISION :ElGHT — SClENCK. 587 



OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 



Young Joseph Grinnell, son of Dr. Fordyce Grinnell, has won the 

 reputation of having captured, preserved, labeled and classified more speci- 

 mens of our native birds than any other person. He seems to have a speci- 

 men of every species and variety of avian fauna ever found here, all nicely 

 preserved, and neatly labeled with both its common and its scientific name. 

 And he furnishes for this volume the following account of them.* [Emend- 

 ations by the editor in brackets]. 



The Birds op Pasadena and Vicinity. — A great number of the 

 birds inhabiting this State are entirely different from those tound in an y 

 other section of the country. Examples of these are the California vulture 

 [more commonly called Condor], California jay, California towhee. But 

 also a large per cent, are either identical or very similar to the birds in the 

 eastern or central parts. For instance, the mocking-bird, mourning dove, 

 and turkey vulture are the same as found in the southern states east. The 

 robins, blue-birds, wrens, pewees, and others show decided differences, 

 while in general characteristics they are the same. Of course the climate 

 and topography of California are the main factors in these differences. The 

 geographical variations of our land are conducive to a wide variety of birds, 

 thus producing a field for unlimited study. 



Quails or Partridges. — The most important game-birds are the 

 partridges [quails] of which we have two widely-different species. The 

 California partridges are the ones found in the vicinity of Pasadena and 

 throughout all the valleys. They are slaty-olive on most of the body, but 

 the lower part of the breast is mottled with black, yellow, white and 

 chestnut. The throat is black, bordered with a broad white band. Also a 

 white stripe passes over the eye and across the forehead. The head is 

 adorned with a black plume composed of six feathers about an inch long. 

 This description applies to the male only, the female having none of the 

 high coloring of the male, and the crest is only about half as long. The 

 call of the California partridge is very clear and musical, and is usually 

 composed of three syllables, the accent being on the second, as " 0-hi-o." 

 This partridge [quail] remains in immense coveys during the fall and winter, 

 but these disband in the spring and their members pair off to breed. They 

 are exceedingly fond of grapes, and thousands are shot annually in the 

 vineyards. 



The mountain partridge is found in the higher mountain ranges, and is 

 seldom seen below an elevation of three thousand feet. It is a much larger 

 and finer-looking bird than the California partridge. It is of a dark olive 

 color, except the breast and throat, which are bright chestnut. The breast 

 and belly are also marbled with black and yellowish-white. The throat- 



* Mr. Grinnell's grandiather was the first pastor of the Friends or Quaker church in Pasadena [see 

 page 484] ; and the young man is now a student in Throop Polytechnic Institute. 



