PRAERIE AND FOREST. 



with a plume remarkable alike for its beauty and 

 grace. This head-dress is a row of eight or ten 

 feathers, commencing on the top of the head and 

 gradually diminishing in size as they grow down the 

 neck. In cases of excitement, or at the breeding 

 season, the cocks raise this, the upper portion of the 

 plumes pointing forward over the forehead after the 

 manner of the crest of a cockatoo. On the hill- 

 sides that enclose the Valley of Sacramento at one 

 time they were veiy abundant, and, although their 

 numbers have been greatly diminished of late years, 

 still they are sufficiently numerous in that locality to 

 afford abundant amusement to the sportsman. 



Unlike the Virginian ortix, they do not lay well to 

 dogs, not that they are wild, but from a preference 

 they have for running instead of taking wing. This 

 peculiarity will often be found a great source of annoy- 

 ance when the cover is thick, and be most injurious to 

 the well-broken, highly-bred dog. However, when 

 flushed, their flight is swift, although not protracted, 

 and no small amount of skill and practice is necessary 

 for the shooter to become a certain shot at this 

 description of game. Like the Virginian bird, they 

 frequently breed twice in the year, and at each sit- 

 ting, if no accident occur, or wet weather supervene, 

 which in their habitat is unusual, hatch from eight to 

 ten young ; thus it is easily understood how they are 

 so abundant. 



Although not migratory, they are very erratic in 

 their habits ; the same cause as in the Virginian ortix 

 being doubtless the reason. 



From a custom they possess of sunning and dusting 

 themselves in very exposed and bare situations, im- 



