THE QUAILS OF CALIFORNIA. 173 



in the brush just over its top. He went down 

 the other side and along it for some space, but 

 nothing rose, and there was nothing calling any- 

 where along that hillside or in the gulch at its 

 foot or on the other side. Before he reached 

 the bottom of the slope there was a buzzing 

 sound a hundred yards away on the other side, 

 and a dark blue line went around a little point 

 of brush. Jones scrambled across ; and just as he 

 was nearing the edge of the gully between the 

 slopes he heard the buzz of more wings. An 

 extra jump landed him on the level ground, but 

 the three quails that had made the noise were 

 out of reach by the time he brought the gun to 

 his shoulder. 



He pressed on faster, and after going about a 

 hundred yards a quail sprung at about thirty 

 yards. Had it risen from the point of a dog he 

 could have caught it with the first barrel, for his 

 gun was a good one and well loaded. But 

 taking him unawares, this bird was too swift, 

 and by the time the shot arrived it had scattered 

 enough to let the bird through with the loss of 

 only a tail-feather. Remembering the birds 

 had crossed the preceding ridge in a line well 



