DR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. -219 



This elegant Quail, the female of which was first described as Ortijx Douglassii, 

 and which has been so long considered a distinct species, does not, as far as I have ob- 

 served, extend into Upper California, but is common about the Gulf, particularly at 

 Mazatlan, where no doubt the specimen figured in Beechy's Voyage was obtained, 

 and not, as stated, at Monterey. 



117. C. Gambelii, Gould. Gambel's Crested Quail. 



Lophortyz Gambelii, Nuttall. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. vol. i. p. 260, 

 C. venusta, Gould. 

 This beautiful species I discovered on the eastern side of the Californian range of 

 mountains in 1841. They were numerous in flocks of fifteen or twenty, running 

 about in company with another species which I thought new also, but the specimens 

 I had procured, whilst engaged in skinning this, were devoured almost at my elbow 

 by a couple of hungry Ravens. Several spiral podded species of Prosopis, with low 

 spreading branches, afforded them excellent covert, and the seeds of bushy malvas, 

 chenopodiums and artemisias, probably served them as food in that dreary region. 



118. C. piCTA, Gould. Plumed Quail. 



Ortyx picta, Douglass. 

 0. plumifera, Gould. 

 Common in the northern parts of Upper California, in the mountain valleys. 



119. C. SQUA.MMATA, Gray. Scaly Quail. 



Ortyx squammata, Vigors. Zool. Jovir. vol. v. p. 275. 

 Callipepla strenua, Wagler. Isis, 1832, p. 277. 

 This singular species is common along the banks of streams in New Mexico, and 

 the adjoining parts of California. 



TETRAO, Linn. 



120. T. UMBELLus, Linn. Ruffed Grouse. 



I met with flocks of this familiar species, much to my surprise, in the high 

 mountain ravines along the solitary and desolate Rio Severo, (Nicolet's river of 

 Fremont,) but did not find it anywhere near the coast. 



121. T. oBscuRus, Say. Dusky Grouse. 



We also met with this fine species frequently in our journey across the interior. 



122. T. UROPHASTANUS, Bouap. Cock of the plains. 

 Common in the interior. 



56 



