BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
85 
Plate XV. 
LOPHORTYX CALIFORNICA, BoxXaparte. 
The Valley Quail of California 
The Valley Quail — so called in contradistinction to the Plumed or 
Mountain Quail, which inhabits hills and highlands — has an exceedingly 
limited range. It abounds in all the valleys of California and Oregon, 
both inland and maritime, but never in the forest-depths, nor on the 
mountain -tops, nor in the interior basin where there is a dearth of water 
and vegetation. In the spring of 1857 these birds were introduced into 
Washington Territory, on the grassy plains near Puget Sound, where they 
soon established themselves. 
According to Dr. Cones, who has paid special attention to the distri- 
bution of our birds, the present species ranges from the Columbia River 
to Cape St. Lucas. In California it is chiefly restricted to the country 
west of the Sierra Nevada, which, with the Great Colorado Desert, is said 
to constitute an apparently impassable barrier between it and Gambel’s 
Partridge — a very near relative. Up the mountains a higher elevation 
than three or four thousand feet is never known to be attained, the 
region beyond being occupied by the Mountain Quail. 
Prairies and grain-fields, and thickets along the borders of streams, 
are noted places of resort. Coveys of from a dozen to a hundred or more 
individuals may be seen in such places, during the non-breeding season, 
busily emjiloyed in gleaning, or in some sort of diversion. Although 
comparatively tame, and permitting a very near approach, yet when dis- 
turbed, they betake themselves to the bushes or trees. When to the latter, 
they squat so closely along the branches, as to escape the keen sight of 
