442 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



0ALL1PBPLA SQCAMATA (Vigors). 

 Scaly Partridge. 



Ortyx squamatus, Vigors, Zool. Jour., v, 1830, 275. 



('(tllipcpla squamata, Bd., Stuns. Rep. Exp. Groat Salt Lake, 1852, 320. — Woodh., 

 Sitgreave's Exp. Zuni & Col. Riv., 1854, 05.— Bd., Birds N. A., 1858, 546.— 

 BAIBD, P. R. R. Rep., Parke's Route, 1850, 10.— Bd., U. S. & Mex. Bound. 

 Surv., ii, pt. ii, 1850, Birds, 23.— Henry, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1850, 

 108 (New Mexico).— Cotjes, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18G0, 05 (valley of 

 Gila aud Colorado). — Cooper, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 550. — Coues, Key N. A. 

 Birds, 1872, 238.— Bd., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 4S7, pi. 63, 

 f. 6.— Henshaw, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 142.— 

 Codes, Birds Northwest, 1874, 441. 



Camp Grant was the only locality where this quail was seen. A single 

 small covey was met with among the bushes on the dry plain. They ap- 

 peared remarkably unsuspicious, and were very loath to take wing, but, 

 when they did so, flew a long distance, keeping nearly together, and on 

 alighting began to run with remarkable speed, and soon eluded pursuit. 



Desertion of young. — Head above grayish-brown, each feather of crest 

 centrally streaked with white ; prevailing color of back ashy-brown ; terti- 

 aries and interscapular region mottled transversely with rufous and black ; 

 wing coverts centrally streaked and tipped with white ; throat ashy-white ; 

 under parts generally washed with rufous, and banded, most distinctly on 

 sides, with transverse blackish-brown bars ; tail above with indistinct bands, 

 producing the general effect of mottlings of dark brown and white ; bill 

 dark brown above, lighter below ; legs and feet light brown (when dried.) 



During the last season, the observations of our party were almost as 

 meager concerning this quail as they were the year previous ; it being seen 

 only on two occasions. The first, however, was at a point which would 

 appear to be quite out of the usual range of the species, as it is if anything 

 more southern in its habitat than the Massena. A single pair was seen along 

 the road at a point about midway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, while 

 we came across no others of the species till well south of the Gila River. 

 From all I could learn by inquiry, this quail is a sparse inhabitant of this 

 section of Arizona ; being, however, quite irregularly dispersed. Thus, at 

 Camp Grant, I was informed by good authority that some seasons it was 



