368 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



to be propped up, tent-like, by means of slender sticks about two feet 

 long and notched at one end. One end of the tunnel was blind and 

 the other, of course, communicated with the opening in tlie apex of 

 the V. As a final touch, the tunnel had been lightly covered with 

 brush. While we were making the above observations, the trappers 

 were engaged in removing the props from the tunnel, and the wire 

 fell upon the two dozen birds that had been captured, pinning tliem to 

 the ground without apparent injury. Stones were placed here and 

 there on the wire to hold the birds more securely and the captives were 

 then carefully removed and placed in containers. The tra]) was reset 

 and the trapping crew was again ready to proceed. 



Another trap was located not far from the one just described 

 and the covey was rounded up and driven toward it. "When this second 

 trap had taken its toll of birds the covey was driven back to the first 

 one. Tliis process was repeated again and again, the birds being driven 



Fig. 138. San Telmo Vallev, Lower California. Note line of quail drivers. 

 Photo by G. H. True, Jr., January 31, 1934. 



in a rough circle and into each trap, in tui'ii, until llicy luid become 

 so wary that none would enter the tunnels. Senor Felix explained 

 that the trappers would now locate another covey, set their traps in a 

 similar fashion and repeat the process just as we had seen it. Anotlier 

 trapping crew was working some distance westward and were enii)l()y- 

 ing essentially the same method with the additional factor of a line of 

 brush fires set by the trappers as they moved along. This it was 

 explained, was to prevent tlio quail from doubling back and is used 

 wherever the cover is exceptionally heavy. 



We were next conducted to the "holding pen," a large expanse 

 of wire mesh pegged to the ground and covered with brush. Beneath 

 the wire a number of birds were imprisoned and their lot was cer- 

 tainly not an enviable one. Although an attempt had been made to 

 prop the wire up by means of short sticks, the birds had little room for 

 movement and were forced to content themselves with remaining in one 

 position. Food and water had been provided but it is doubtful if the 



