238 GAME. 



largest and finest specimens I have ever seen being found 

 in .North-Eastern Arizona. It is a prolific bird, and 

 most Indian tribes are debarred by superstition from 

 eating it. The consequence is, that, in spite of the un- 

 remitting attacks of white hunters, they are yet found in 

 almost incredible numbers on many portions of the plains. 

 Near the railroads and along the confines of advancing 

 civilisation they are comparatively scarce; but there are 

 still immense sections of country in which the hunter has 

 only himself to blame if these most delicious birds fail to 

 furnish at least a portion of his daily fare. 



EOCK PARTRIDGE. 



This bird is not described in any work on ornithology 

 I have yet seen. It weighs about a pound, being two or 

 three times larger than the ' Bob White ' of the Eastern 

 States, and forms an intermediate link between it and the 

 sharp-tailed grouse, which it resembles somewhat in 

 habits. In shape and colour it is usually like the ' Bob 

 White;' but in the laying season the cock changes its 

 plumage almost entirely, and becomes the most beautiful 

 game bird of the country. His back remains the same 

 sober brown; but the white and black lines about his 

 eyes increase in intensity of colour, his breast becomes a 

 dark red, while his legs down to the knee are jet black. 



They go in coveys, like the quail, but in entirely 

 different ground. They love the bare rocky sides of hills 

 or bare mountains, and take readily to the cover of cedar 

 thickets. Their favourite resort, however, is the grassy 

 tops of limestone mesas through which the waters have 

 cut yawning chasms and canons. 



Disturbed from these, a flutter and a plunge places 

 500 or 1,000 feet of precipice between him and 

 his pursuer. While scarcely grown, they lie well to 

 the dog, and very early in the season, when found in 

 fairly good ground, this bird affords splendid sport. 



