XVII 



THE CALIFORNIA PARTRIDGES 



THESE are two remarkably beautiful birds, gener- 

 ally known as the California partridges. Both 

 of these birds are of a slate-blue color, handsomely 

 marked. Both are found on the Pacific Coast. The 

 mountain partridge is the larger bird, and is somewhat 

 larger than Bob-white. The California partridge, more 

 often called the valley-quail or partridge, is smaller 

 than the Bob-white. These birds have handsome 

 black plumes on their heads, and are often designated 

 as plumed partridges. There are two sub-species of 

 the mountain partridge and one of the valley bird, but 

 these are of the same general color and markings, and 

 have the same habits, and the differences are so slight 

 that they do not appear when the birds are pictured 

 in black and white. 



The inhabitants of California, outside of technical 

 ornithologists, only know two birds the mountain and 

 the valley partridge. These birds trust to their legs 

 more than their wings, and are remarkably expert 

 runners. On that account they are not very desirable 

 game birds. The flesh of both is excellent, they fly 

 swiftly with the whirring noise common to all gallina- 

 ceous birds, are excellent marks, and the California 

 sportsmen are much given to their pursuit. Dogs are 



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