GALLINAE — TETRAONID.E— ORTYX. 
203 
with black sagittate spots. Quills dusky, margined externally with blue : secondaries barred 
with light red. Tail bluish grey, sprinkled with yellowish and black. Female : Eye-stripe 
not distinct; throat and sides of the head clay-yellow, not bordered with black; lower side 
of the neck white, spotted with black. 
Length, 9'5 — 10'0. 
The Common American Quail, or Partridge, as it is indifferently called in various sec¬ 
tions of the country, occurs in every part of the State, where it breeds, and is a constant 
resident. Their flight is rapid, but short, and they usually occur in large bevies. The nest 
is on the ground, and contains from eight to eighteen pure white eggs, and they raise a single 
brood in a season. Their food consists of grains, seeds and berries. Various attempts have 
been made to domesticate them, but hitherto with but limited success, owing to their restless 
and timorous habits. In the spring, the male has a loud whistle of two or three notes, which 
is thought by the country people to resemble the words Buck Wheat, and Bob White. It is 
eagerly sought after as a game bird, and is caught in great numbers by traps, horsehair 
nooses, nets and other devices. When flushed, they frequently take to trees ; but they com¬ 
monly roost on the ground, in a circle with their heads outwards. 
The Common Quail ranges from Honduras to Massachusetts. 
(. EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 
O. californica. (Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. 62. Atid. Vol. 5, pi. 290.) Head with a tuft of six elon¬ 
gated feathers. Back and wings greyish brown. Beneath, throat black, margined by a white 
band descending from the eyes. Breast bluish grey; beneath reddish. Female: Crest smaller; 
throat and cheeks brownish white. Length, 9 inches. California. 
O. plumifera, Gould. (Aud. B. of Am, Vol. 5, p. 69, pi. 291.) Crest of two long black linear- 
lanceolate feathers. Head, neck and breast greyish blue. Throat bright chesnut, margined by a 
black line on the sides. Beneath and flanks reddish, varied with white and black. Bill black: 
feet yellow. Length, 10•0-11*0. Columbia river. 
O. neoxenus, Vigors. (Aud. Ib. p. 71, pi. 292.) Crest short, straight, and of about six lengthened 
black feathers. Back and tail greyish brown, with transverse dusky bars. Beneath dark brown, 
with numerous rounded white spots. Sides of the head and neck reddish. Length, 7-5. Cali' 
fornia. 
* 
26' 
