NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 165 



into the State of Washington. Mr. Emerson informs me that it breeds in the higher 

 mountain ranges, not below 4,000 feet. In some portions of Oregon it is very abund- 

 ant. The eggs are deposited on the ground, on a bed of dead leaves, under a bush 

 or tuft of grass or weeds. Six to twelve are usually laid, of a cream color with a red- 

 dish tint. Dr. Coues describes the eggs as miniatures of the Ruffed Grouse's, only 

 distinguishable by their smaller size, 1.36x1.02. 



292a. PLUMED PARTRIDGE. Oreortyx pictus plumiferus (Gould.) Geog. 

 Dist. Sierra Nevada ranges from Oregon southward; coast ranges of California to 

 Cape St. Lucas. 



This subspecies, which very much resembles 0. pictus, inhabits both sides of the 

 Sierra Nevada Mountains from Eastern Oregon southward, through the coast ranges 

 of California. Its general habits, nesting, eggs, etc., are the same as those of the 

 Mountain Partridge. The eggs are creamy-buff, of varying shades, and their aver- 

 age size is 1.40x1.02. 



292ft. SAN PEDRO PARTRIDGE. Oreortyx pictus coflnis Anthony. Geog. 

 Dist. San Pedro Mountains, Lower California. 



This is a comparatively recent subspecies, having been first described by Mr. 

 A. W. Anthony in 1889. It differs from the last-named species, in that the upper 

 parts are grayer and the bill thicker. Mr. Anthony informed Maj. Bendire that the 

 breeding range of this race extends from the foothills along the base of the San 

 Pedro Mountains, Lower California, to the tops of the highest peaks, estimated at 

 about 12,500 feet. Mr. Anthony found a nest on Valladares Creek, March 29, 1889. 

 The nest was placed in the midst of thick manzanita chaparral, high up on a hill- 

 side. The nest was a mere hollow under a manzanita bush, lined or rather filled, 

 with dry leaves of the lilac and manzanita, and contained but a single egg. Mr. An- 

 thony shot the female and secured from her another egg just ready to be deposited. 

 He states that they resemble those of the Plumed Partridge in shape and color, being 

 creamy white and unspotted. The two specimens measure 1.42x1.10 and 1.46x1.06 

 respectively. 



293. SCALED PARTRIDGE. Callipepla sqiiamata (Vig.) Geog. Dist. North- 

 western Mexico and border of the United States, from Western Texas to New Mexico 

 and Southern Arizona. 



This handsome Partridge, called Blue Quail, is distributed throughout North- 

 western Mexico, Western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, but is said to be less 

 numerous than the crested Partridges or Quails. In Arizona they 

 are found in flocks of from six to ten, sometimes more in the 

 most barren places, miles away from any water. Mr. W. E. D. Scott 

 found this Quail as abundant on the dry mesas of the San Pedro slope of the 

 Santa Catalina Mountains, up to an altitude of 3,500 feet, as its congener C. 'yambeli. 

 At this altitude Mr. Scott found a nest, May 20, containing eleven eggs.* It in- 

 habits a more open country than 'ffambeli and in other localities large flocks of both 

 species were often seen together. A slight depression under a bush serves as a 

 nest, it is generally lined with a few coarse grasses. In Western Texas complete 

 sets of eggs may be found as early as April 25. The eggs are extremely thick- 

 shelled; the number laid ranges from eight to sixteen, twelve being the more 

 common number. Their color is buffy-white or of a cream color, irregularly dotted 

 with specks of light brown; size, 1.24x.94. 



* Auk. Ill, pp. 387-388. 



