VALLEY PARTRIDGE. 



59 



coveys break up in March, and mating begins. This fact 

 is a very remarkable one, as it shows the suppression of 

 the amatory instinct (we can hardly imagine at the will 

 of the bird), at a time when, if it was allowed to have its 

 usual sway with the consequent result, the probability 

 would be that the young would perish from lack of food. 

 But it would seem that the birds' volition had nothing 

 to do with the case, for, as Mr. Anthony states (in a let- 

 ter to Captain Bendire given in the work already cited), 

 individuals obtained by him in April, May, and June, 

 during one of these dry seasons, exhibited but a very 

 slight development of the ovaries. The nesting season 

 begins in March, perhaps a little later in the northern 

 portion of its habitat, and the males at this time are very 

 pugnacious, and frequent battles occur among them for 

 the possession of some particular fair one. The chal- 

 lenge call of the male is clear and loud, and he also has a 

 low, tender note, which seems to be uttered solely for 

 the female, and resembles the syllables ah-hooh. The 

 nest is a very primitive affair; very often the eggs are 

 deposited on the bare ground, under some bush, log, or 

 by the side of a rock, or in similar situations as are 

 selected by the California Partridge, and the number, 

 coloring, and marking of the eggs are the same as those 

 of the species just named. 



The habits and food of the tvj birds are very much 

 alike, as would be supposed, and the present race runs 

 as swiftly, exhibits the same unwillingness to He before 

 a dog, takes to a tree or bush quickly, and evinces the 

 same indisposition to fly as is displayed by its relative. 

 If the flock is met suddenly, the birds utter a cry that 

 sounds very much as if they were trying to swear at the 

 intruder in Spanish, and many an angry ca-raho is 

 hurled at his head in earnest tones, as if the startled birds 



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