VALLEY PARTRIDGE. 



pALER in color than its relative of the coast, the 

 present race inhabits the interior of Oregon, Nevada, 

 and California as far to the southward as Cape St. Lucas, 

 frequents the valleys and foothills of the mountains, and 

 ascending the latter in Lower California to an eFevation 

 of about 8000 or 9000 feet. It is found on both slopes ot 

 the Sierra Nevada, and goes east to Death Valley, and 

 along the Mojave River until it reaches the western limits 

 of Gambel's Partridge. In the upper part of the Willa- 

 mette Valley, OrcT^^n, it is abundant, but in the lower 

 part is supplanted by the California Partridge. It has 

 been introduced into Utah, and flourished there in all 

 suitable localities. It withstands cold very well, for Ben- 

 dire states (Life Hist. N. Am. B, p. 2y), that in the upper 

 Klamath \"alley, Oregon, he found a small covey, 

 which passed successfully through the winter of 1882, 

 though the thermometer registered more than once con- 

 siderably below zero, and the next spring there were two 

 coveys of half-grown birds. In Lower California very 

 dry seasons occasionally occur, and it is a rather singular 

 fact, and this has been proved by several careful 

 observers, that during such periods the Valley Quail do 

 not breed, but the large flocks that are formed during the 

 autumn reniain unbroken all summer. The cause of this 

 curious condition of affairs may be the scarcity of seeds 

 and tender grasses, which from lack of moi^..are have not 

 appeared in the customary abundance. However, if the 

 winter rainfall has been of the usual quantity, then the 



58 



