8 BULLETIN 107, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



VALLEY QUAIL. 



(Lophortyx calif ornica vallicola.) 



The valley quail, common in the irrigated portion of Salt Lake 

 Valley, is frequently seen about alfalfa fields. Though a little shy 

 in such environment, it appears to be perfectly at home and succeeds 

 in raising broods wherever it finds sufficient cover. An open season 

 is maintained for taking this bird during the month of October in 

 the counties of San Pete, Uinta, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, 

 Sevier, and Carbon, while in some of the less densely populated 

 sections a longer season is provided. 



The valley quail has a good record as a weevil destroyer, based on 

 a limited amount of material, but examination of it gives a fair idea 

 of what can be expected of this bird. One was obtained in May 

 and four in June. In the stomach of each the weevil was present 

 in very large numbers, and in only one did the insects number less 

 than 100 individuals in various stages of development. The five birds 

 had eaten, respectively, 165 larva? and 7 adults, 126 larva? and 1 adult, 

 317 larva? and 2 adults, 128 larva? and 1 adult, and 75 larva? and 2 

 adults, a total of 811 larva? and 13 adults. In bulk this averaged 

 32.4 per cent of the stomach contents and at the same time formed 

 95.3 per cent of the animal portion of the bird's diet. In three cases 

 the contents of the crop, which was full, were also included. Other 

 animal food taken was divided in small lots under several heads. 



The vegetable element, which formed 66 per cent of the stomach 

 contents, was composed largely of weed seeds. Among these were 

 found filaree (Erodium cicutarium), smartweed {Polygonum sp.), 

 shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) , Russian thistle (Salsola 

 tragus) , a vetch (Astragalus sp.), and dandelion (Taxaracum tax- 

 aracum). One bird had picked up about 400 seeds of alfalfa and 

 another a quantity of wheat, estimated to be 55 per cent of the food. 



Thus the valley quail may become troublesome by feeding on grain 

 or seeds of other cultivated crops. At present, however, it is not 

 sufficiently abundant in Utah to be a source of anxiety, and the short 

 open season now allowed is more than ample to keep it in check. 

 This bird is one of the most valuable about the farm, and in Utah 

 it appears to eat even more than its customary amount of animal 

 food. Any change in legislation, therefore, should be in the direc- 

 tion of increased protection. 



WESTERN MOURNING DOVE. 



{Zenaidura macroura marginclla.) 



The reason for including the western mourning dove, an almost 

 exclusively granivorous bird, among the weevil's enemies is based on 

 the fragments of adults found in two stomachs. While this mourn- 



