THIRTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 63 



their relative abundance at the different seasons. Quail are taken at intervals 

 directly after a feeding period, their stomach contents listed and compared with the 

 relative abundance of the seeds from the vicinity where they were feeding. This in 

 order to determine food preferences. The study has not proceeded far enough to 

 draw definite conclusions. 



The quail on this area need water at least once during the day. In one 

 instance a covey travels a half mile, a part of which is over open river bottom, in 

 order to drink. They drink quickly and immediately return to their resting ground 

 at the base of the hUls. When a drinking place dries up a covey will tend to migrate 

 and live permanently near a source of water rather than to remain on the old feeding 

 ground and make long trips for a drink. 



On the Otay area the outstanding influence over the distribution and numbers 

 of quail is "over-grazing" by stock. The cattle eat the plants before the seeds are 

 mature and thus are a decided food competitor. They break the branches of plants 

 used for roosts in order to get shade for themselves and cover their range so thor- 

 oughly that, during the spring, they destroy many nests. Their foraging destroys 

 the smaU cover, grass, etc., which appears to be of considerable protection for nests. 

 The five nests cited above as being found after hatching were all within an area some 

 three hundred feet square that had been so slightly grazed there was a good stand 

 of fox grass, alfilaria, etc. 



Three small areas, fifty feet square, at appropriate locations on the refuge 

 have been fenced from the stock. As the water supply, diminishes or the food 

 becomes scarce artificial water and feeding will be provided at these places and the 

 effect noted on the distribution of the coveys. 



