118 LAND BIRDS 



of tlie male is suggestive of the crowing of a young ban- 

 tam, while the rallying cry of scattered birds is not unlike 

 the yelping of young wild turkeys." 



294. CALIFORNIA PARTRIDGE. — LopAoM!t/.r 

 californicus. 



Family : The Grouse, Partridges, Quails, etc. 



Length : 9.50. 



Adult Male : Crest black ; nape dusky bi'own, "bordered by black and 



white lines ; upper parts dusky brown, striped with chestnut along 



the sides of the back ; throat blaf.k, bordered by white; breast slnte- 



color; belly, except chestnut patch, scaled ; sides dusky brown, 



streaked with white. 

 Adult Female: Head plain, with no black and white ; plumage uniform 



dusky brown; belly scaled; no chestuut on under parts; sides 



streaked with white. 

 Young: Upper parts gray -brown ; feathers of back and wing-coverts 



edged witli dark gray and white ; under parts white and gray. 

 Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast region from Monterey to Oregon. 

 Breeding Range : Xearly coincident with the Geographical Distribution. 

 Breeding Season : April and Jlny. 

 Kcsl : A hollow near a rock or at foot of a tree trunk ; scantily lined 



with grass ; sometimes under hedge, bush, or brush-heap. 

 Eggs: 8 to 10; huffy, thickly spotted with shades of brown. Size 



1.33 X 0.97. 



The crest of the California Partridge is a little longer 

 than that of the valley partridge, and tips forward in the 

 same way. 



This handsome little partridge is unfortunately a 

 favorite game bird, and, as such, has become not only 

 somewhat scarce but exceedingly .shy. It haunts the 

 caiions and slopes covered with underbrush, as well as 

 the sagebrush and stubble, and has learned to run to 

 cover rather than to flush when pursued. In this way 



