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BIRDS. 



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1G9. LOPHORTYX GAMBELII, Nutt. (p. 645.)— Gambell's Partridge. 



9362, San Elizario; TexaS; December, 1855. Dr. Kennerly, 14.— 9363, 9364, 2. Do. 13 

 and 5. — 9369 $ . Colorado river, California. A. Schott, — 9370 $ , do. Dr. Ivennerly. 



This species was not met cast of the valley of the Rio Grande, nor further soutli than Presidio del Norte. Unlike the 

 sqxiamataj it is very common for this species to sit on the branches of trees and bushes, particularly the male, where he 

 bewails in notes most mournful the absence of liis mate and other cares of life. They are so tame as to come about the Mexican 

 towns, the inhabitants of which, though half starved, never think of making an eFort to capture them. It inhabits only wooded 

 and watered regions. I believe that they will take insects or berries, indiiTerently, which ever first falls in tlie \v:iy of an em[)ly 

 crop. In eummer they make the patches of ** Solatium ?" their home, feeding on its quite palatable berries. Unlike the squatnala 

 and mas'£nay this qtiail when flushed seeks trees and hides very successfully among the branches. — (Clark.) 



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Was not observed until we reached the valley of the Rio Grande, and not further west than San Eernardino, Sonora, 



Though closely resembling in its habits the scaly partridge, {CalUpejila s^uama/a,) and occupying the eame districts in some 

 instances, they were never observed together. — (Kennerly.) ' 



110. CALLIPEPLA SQUAMATA, G r ay . (p. 646.)— Scaled or Blue Partridge. 



9381. 9 . San Pedro. J. H. Clark. — 3999 ^ , New Leon, Mexico. Lt. Couch. 



This quail does not occur on the grassy praiiies near the coast. My first acquaintance with il was on Devil's river, where 

 my attention was attracted by a very peculiar note, of which I started in pursuit, tliinking the noise was made by some kind of 



squirrel. In the valley of the lower Rio Grande they were frequently met with in covies of a dozen or more. Their food on the 

 prairies is doubtless insectivorous, while on the lower Rio Grande it was almost impossible to obtain a specimen whose bill was 

 not stained with the fruit of the Ojntvtia. Not shy, and would rather get out of the way by running than by flying. At no 

 time and under no circumstances do they alight in bushes or trees. Remains of nests show them to ie mere scratches in tiie 

 ground aiid very carelessly selected. Young were met with in June and July. — (Clark.) 



Th's species was first seen about 60 leagues west of Matamoras, not until free from prairie and bottom land ; it was occasion- 

 ally noticed apparently associating with the Oxtyx texana ; general habits similar to that bird. — (Couch.) 



Found everywhere where there was permanent and fresh water, from Limpia creek, Te.xas, to San Bernardino, Sonora. 

 Living on the mountain sides or on the hills among the low mesquite bushes and larrea ; relying apparently more upon its legs 

 than wings, ascending the most precipitous cliffs or disappearing among the bushes with great rapidity. — (Kennerly.) 



171. CYKTONYX MASSENA, Gould, (p. 64T.)—Massena Partridge. 



9358. Turkey creek, Tex., Nov., 1854. Dr. Kennerlj, 25.-9355. Laredo, Texas. J. H. 

 Clark.— 3998 $ New Leon, Mex., April, 1853. Lt. Couch. 



O.'ice on flushing a covy of Ortijx texamis^ my attention was attracted hj a bird that remained behind showing no incliRation 



I to follow the rest. It attempted to hide in the grass but not to fly, and on being shot proved to be a male massena. 



It occurs in pairs or flocks, and when flushed it flies further than the Virginia quail, and docs not lie so close. They may be 

 approached within a few feet, and followed up, particularly when in pairs ; running along before you like so many domestic 

 fowls. It is quiet as well as retired; a subdued though sharp note is the only noise I ever heard it make, and that only when 

 frightened. I have seen it pursued and all the barrels of a six-shooter fired at it without giving it alarm and finally forced to 

 fly only by an attack of stones and clubs. It was first met in the neighborhood of San Antonio, and thence sparsely distributed 



as an inhabitant both of prairies and mountains, as far westward as Sonora. It is a much wilder bird than the sguama/a; less 

 conspicuous as also less noisy; and never seen in flocks, living about old camps, as is often the case with the latter. Its haunts i 



are 



far removed from the habitation of man, and the indifference it sometimes manifests to his presence is due to its igncranccof 

 his power and attributes. Though distributed over the same country as the squamalaj it is not found in such barren reffions as 

 the latter frequently is — preferring those districts most luxuriantly covered with vegetation. — (Clark.) 



First seen in the cafion Guapuco, 12 leagues south of Monterey ; though rather shy, it seemed quite at home in the cultivated 



I fields and stubbles of the ranches. — (Couch.) 



This bird I have never seen further south in Texas than Turkey creek. In this vicinity it was very common, and also at 

 various points thence to the Rio Grande In the valley of this river it is very rarely seen, giving way apparently to the 

 Scaly and Gambel's partridges. West of the river it was very common as far as we travelled, wherever there was fresh and 

 permanent water. In the valley of the Santa Cruz river, and among the adjacent hills, it was extremely abundant. In the 

 months of June and July it was observed there, always in pairs; while in Texas, in the months of . October and November it 

 was found in very large flocks, sometinaes of various ages, from the very small and partly fledged, to the full grown bird. When 



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