THE CALIFOEmA PARTEIDGE. 25 



twenty-one to twenty-eight days. I belie ve the fii'st-mentioned period is nearer 

 correct. 



Mr. Walter E. Bryant, well known as an excellent ornithologist, writes 

 as follows regarding some unusual nesting sites of the California Partidge: 

 "Essentially a ground-building species, but several cases have conie under my 

 notice of its nesting in trees, upon the upright end of a broken or decayed limb, 

 or at the intersection of two large branches. A few years ago a brood was 

 hatched in and safely conducted away from a vine-covered trellis at the front 

 door of a popular seminary. How the parents managed to get the tender 

 young- down to the ground is not known." ^ 



The young run about as soon as hatched. Usually but one brood is raised, 

 occasionally two. In the latter case the male takes charge of the young Avhen 

 they are about three weeks old, the female then lajdng the eggs for the 

 second. Downy young have been observed as early as May 20 in the 

 southern portions of their range, and some broods are undoubtedly hatched 

 still earlier. In the fall, when the young are full grown and able to shift for 

 themselves, they collect in large packs, a number of coveys associating together 

 until spring. They are much shyer then and more difficult to approach. The 

 usual call note, when one of these packs become scattered, is a rather unmusical 

 "ca-ape, ca-ape," the last syllable drawn out; another note, like "ka-kaah," is 

 also used on such occasions. 



From twelve to sixteen eggs seems to be the average number laid. The 

 largest number found in a nest of which I have any reliable record is twenty- 

 one, but undoubtedly more are occasionally found when two hens lay in the 

 same nest. Their ground color is usually creamy white, but now and then a 

 decidedly buff-colored set is found. The markings vary from fine dots, usually 

 well rounded and of various sizes, to irregular outlined spots and blotches of 

 different shades of dark chestnut brown, olivaceous drab, and golden russet, 

 generally pretty evenly scattered over the entire egg. In shape and thick-' 

 ess of shell they resemble the eggs of Colinus virginianus. 



The average measurement of forty-eight specimens in the U. S. National 

 Museum collection is 32 by 25 millimetres. The largest egg of this series 

 measures 35 by 26, the smallest 30 by 24 millimetres. 



Of the three type specimens figured, which are selected to show the 

 variations and different styles of markings, Nos. 17922 and 21109 (from the 

 Bendire collection) were obtained near Santa Cruz, California, on June 13, 

 1874, and July 21, 1877 (PI. 1, Figs. 8 and 10), and No. 23912 (PL 1, Fig. 9) 

 was taken near Hay wards, California, on April 21, 1883, by Mr. W. Otto 

 Emerson. 



' Bulletin California Academy of Sciences, ii, 1887, p. 451. 



