94 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



they increased at the rate of sixteen for each pair while the average 

 for quail and pheasants was eight. 



Their natural habitat is the rolling hills and grain fields that was 

 formerly the home of the native prairie chicken. On the wing they 

 are a match for the speed and cunning of the bob white or California 

 valley quail. Another feature of this bird is the fact that they do not 

 congregate in numbers during the winter. The family, under the guid- 

 ance of the two parents, remains as a family until the mating season. 



Fig. 35. Hungarian partridges being received at 



direct Irom Europe. 



the Yountville Game Farm 



The Chukor is another partridge, native of India, that has proven 

 his worth as a game bird. They diifer from the Hungarian in that they 

 may be produced on a game farm in numbers like quail or pheasants. 

 They seem to thrive under domestic conditions and yet it does not 

 break cloAvn any of their natural instincts as a game bird. Attempts 

 at breeding the Hungarian under domestic conditions have invariably 

 met M'ith defeat. 



The bamboo partridge, native of Asia, as its name suggests, lives in 

 the cane or bamboo thickets. But it has been found tliat willow thickets 

 appeal to the bird and they make themselves at home wh.en transplanted 

 into this sort of cover. They are fast, but not as liberal in production 

 as the Hungarian or Chukor. The average nest contains about seven 



eggs. 



The Division of Fish and Game has inaugurated a systematic plan 

 of importing a certain number of partridges each year for a period of 

 five years. These birds will be released in suitable cover and given the 

 best possible protection. It is planned to produce the Cliukor on our 

 game farms. 



CALIFORNIA VALLEY QUAIL 



The natural stock of this fine game bird is still sufficient, but needs a 

 lot of real help. In some sections they are more than plentiful. Trap- 

 ping from the over-populated areas will help a lot and these birds can 



