THE mountain partridge, the plumed partridge, and the 

 San Pedro partridge, the three species popularly known as 

 California mountain quail, are so much alike that they may be 

 regarded as the same for sporting purposes. They are larger 

 than the bob-whites and are easily distinguished by the plume 

 of long, straight feathers. The length of the plumed partridges 

 is about 10 inches; bob-white is about 7% inches. 



I did not find these birds very abundant anywhere in my 

 rambles in California, but Elliot says the mountain partridge 

 is rather abundant in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and 

 common in parts of California. The plumed partridge inhabits 

 the drier regions of the interior and only approaches the sea- 

 coast in the southern portions of its range. The San Pedro 

 species inhabits the San Pedro Mountains, Lower California. 



The flesh of these beautiful big game birds is palatable and, 

 although they do not perform as well before dogs as the bob- 

 whites, they are well worth preserving as objects of sport and 

 for food. Like other upland game birds they have vanished 

 rapidly and they are extinct in many places. Something more 

 than shooting them even under laws providing for short seasons 

 and small bags is necessary to save them from extinction. 

 Game keepers easily could keep them fairly plentiful and could 

 preserve, at the same time, the big dusky grouse, the band- 

 tailed pigeon and many California valley quails on properly 

 protected areas. A regulated market should supply the funds 

 to support the needed industry. 



The food of the young is largely insects. Later the birds 

 eat berries, many seeds and buds, and Elliot says they eat 

 grain when it is obtainable. This is a useful hint for game 

 preservers, who should always see that the game has plenty of 

 food. The nests of the plumed and mountain partridges 

 usually contain from eight to ten or twelve eggs. 



VALLEY QUAIL or partridges and the California quail 

 are much alike in size and markings. The valley quail 

 is somewhat paler in color and inhabits the interior of Oregon, 

 Nevada and California, south to Cape St. Lucas, the California 

 species being more a native of the coast regions. The food 

 habits of both are similar to those of the other quails. Com- 



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