14 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



feathers on the crown. (Described from figures in Gray- 

 son's plate.) 



HAB. Mountain ranges of California and Oregon to- 

 wards the coast. Nevada (eastern slope and foot-hills of 

 the Sierra Nevada ; (^Ridgway). 



There are two quite different races of this species, but 

 which, however, pass gradually into each other, and must 

 be considered as merely the extremes of one species. They 

 may be defined as follows : 



1. Var. Pictus. Pure ash confined to the pectoral region ; 

 the russet-brown or rusty-olivaceous of the upper parts 

 covering whole neck and crown ; forehead entirely ashy. 

 Wing, 5.25; tarsus shorter than middle toe (1.27; middle 

 toe, 1.30.) Hob. Washington Territory, Oregon, and up- 

 per coast region of California. 



2. Var. Plumiferus. Pure ash covering whole pectoral 

 region, and crown, nape, and upper part of back ; the gray- 

 ish-olivaceous above confined to the posterior parts. Fore- 

 head distinctly whitish. Wing, 5.25 ; tarsus longer than 

 middle toe (1.27; middle toe, 1.25.) Hob. Sierra Nevada, 

 and Southern California to Cape St. Lucas. 



HABITS. The Mountain Quail of California is said by 

 Dr. Newberry to be similar in some respects to the common 

 Partridge of Europe. It is nowhere very common, but 

 occurs sparingly throughout the entire length of California 

 and Oregon to at least the Columbia, and probably beyond 

 it, having much the same range with the Calif ornicus, though 

 everywhere a rarer bird, and always confined to the hills 

 and mountains. Its habits are similar to those of the other 

 species of this family, but it is less gregarious, and is more 

 shy. It is usually found in the chaparral, where it is put 

 up with difficulty, as it seeks safety by running on the 

 ground rather than by flight. On the first of August, at 

 the base of Lassen's Butte, Dr. Newberry found a solitary 

 hen with a brood of very young chicks. The brood scat- 

 tered like young Partridges, uttering a piping note like that 

 of young chickens, and when all was still, again were re- 

 called by the mother with a cluck, much like the call of the 



