138 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



crown somewhat lengthened, and capable of being- erected into a 

 slight crest ; forehead, a line over the eye and the throat white 

 bordered with black ; crown, neck and front of breast brownish 

 red, other under parts white marked with crescentic black bars ; 

 sides streaked with brownish red, upper parts varied with chest- 

 nut, black, grey and tawny. In the female the forehead, throat 

 and line over the eye are buff instead of white, and her colors 

 throughout are somewhat paler than those of the male ; she is 

 also a little smaller than the male. The ordinary Quail of Florida 

 is regarded by most competent authorities as a variety of the Quail 

 of the north. It is smaller and its colors are darker, approaching 

 the Cuban form Ortyx citbaneiisis. Dr. Coues has named it var. 

 Floridaims. Variety texanus, Lawrence, is about the size of Flor- 

 idamis but is even paler and greyer than our northern bird. It is 

 the common Quail of Texas. 



Oreortyx Rictus. — Baird- Mountain Quail of California. 



This is a beautiful species, the largest Quail known to the 

 United States, being quite a foot long. The wings and tail and 

 the posterior half of the body above are rich olive brown, some of 

 the inner quills being edged with white on the inside. The pos- 

 terior half of the body below is purplish chestnut barred with 

 \yhite, black and tawny ; fore part of body a rich slate blue ; chin 

 and throat purplish chestnut. A long crest, consisting of two slen- 

 der keeled feathers which rise from the crown, sometimes attains 

 a length of three or four inches in the male. This beautiful species 

 inhabits the mountain regions of Oregon and California, and is 

 never, we believe, found on the low lands. They will usually run 

 before a dog, are only flushed with much trouble, and often take 

 to the trees after being started. 



Lophortyx cali/ornica. —Bon. Valley Quail, Meadow Quail. 



The Valley Quail, as its name implies, is a lowland species, and 

 is rarely found high up on the mountain sides. It is smaller than 

 the preceding, but its plumage is no less beautiful. Its head is 

 adorned with a fine crest of from six to ten keeled clubbed black 

 feathers, sometimes an inch in length, and bent forward, giving to 

 the bird a very jaunty air, Male with a small white line from bill 



