WILD BIRDS SUSCEPTIBLE OF DOMESTICATION. 



iff) 





CALIFORNIA PAETEIDGK. 



naca, carefully constructed of dry grass and slen- 

 der twigs. Eggs, from thirteen to seventeen, 

 about the size of those of the common fowl, of 

 a wood-brown color, with irregular chocolate 

 blotches on the thick end. Period of incuba- 

 tion, twenty-one to twenty-two days. The young 

 leave the nest a few hours after they are hatch- 

 ed. In the summer and autumn months these 

 birds are seen in small troops, and in winter 

 and spring in flocks of several hundreds." 



CALIFORNIA PARTRIDGE. 



This beautiful species is common in the low 

 woods and plains of California, where it was 

 discovered by the unfortunate La Perouse, and, 

 according to the editor of his voyage, was found 

 i.i flocks of two or three hundred; the birds 

 were fat, and well-flavored. Several living 

 specimens were procured by Captain Beechy, 

 with a view of being brought or carried to En- 

 gland, where it was hoped the species might be 

 domesticated, or naturalized; but, unfortunate- 

 ly, the plan was defeated by the death of the fe- 



males on the passage. The males were pre- 

 sented to the Zoological Society, and one of 

 them lived for a considerable time. 



Specimens of the California partridge or <]iiai! 

 had, however, been previously carried to En- 

 gland by Mr. A. Menzies, who accompanied 

 Vancouver in his expedition round the world, 

 and were described by Shaw and Latham. 



Several specimens of this beautiful bird were 

 brought to New York a few years since by a 

 citizen on his return from California, with a 

 view of domesticating them. 



In manners these birds closely resemble those 

 of the partridge or quail, but hold themselves 

 more erect ; the graceful crest on the head 

 adding much to their appearance. The general 

 plumage is a dnsky slate color; the crest, which 

 is bent forward, is black, as is also the throat, 

 encircled by a belt of white. The feathers ar 

 the back of the neck are small and triangular, 

 of a slaty hue, with a narrow black margin and 

 white tip. The female has but little crest, and 

 the general tone of the coloring is browner and 



