432 PLUilED QUAIL LOPHORTYX GAMBELI. 



been found frozen to death, huddled together in the vain attempt to 

 preserve their warmth. At Fort Randall, a place where the river flows 

 nearly due east, I observed that the Quail were all on the north bank, 

 although the other afforded equally attractive resorts; this may be 

 accounted for by a suggestion of Captain Hartley's, that they choose 

 the sunny side of the river, the south side being overshadowed by the 

 bold bluffs. 



Stjpplementaey account of ODONTOPHORIN^. 



As the Missouri region furnishes but a single species of this interest- 

 ing group, I will illustrate it further with an account of all the remain- 

 ing species of the United States, derived chiefly from my observations 

 in Xew Mexico, Arizona, and California. The distinctive characters of 

 the genera have already been given. 



PLUMED QUAIL. — Lophoetyx gambeli,* Wutt. 



As the principal game bird of Arizona, and in fact the only one found 

 all over the Territory since the Turkeys and water-fowl are necessarily 

 of partial distribution, the Plumed Quail claims the special attention of 

 the sportsman, as well as naturalist, and has charms for both. It is resi- 

 dent in all parts of the Territory, and always at hand to furnish healthful 

 and agreeable sport, no less than to contribute a dainty to larders that 

 are rarely overstocked. 



The geographical distribution of this species has been determined 

 with precision, thanks to the observations of several naturalists besides 

 myself, who have recorded their experiences in different localities. In 

 general terms, the Territories of Xew Mexico and Arizona may be called 

 its habitat; biit this indication may be given with more exactitude. To 

 the eastward the bird has been found as far as the Rio Pecos, in Texas, 

 a region that seems to be its limit in this direction, the Massena replac- 

 ing it beyond. The Colorado nearly defines it western extension, but 

 this statement requires the qualification given below. The conditions 

 of the Quails existence are fulfilled throughout the broad region 

 between the rivers just named; whfle to the northward enough is now 

 known of its extension to make it certain that it reaches somewhat 

 further than the limits Colonel McCall assigned in his extremely inter- 

 esting contribution to Mr. Cassin's work. This gentleman gives the 

 habitat as lying between the 31st and 34th parallels ; but I found it 

 abundant at Fort Whipple, a little north of 35°, and think the limit 

 should not be fixed lower than 30° at least. But its numbers dwindle 

 as we approach its northern confines, and the broken mountain portions 

 of Northern Arizona appear less suited to its wants than the plains and 



* The followiug ia the synonymy of this species : 



Lophortijx gambeli, "Nutt."— Gamb., Pr. A. N. S. i, 1843, 260; Jonru. A. N. S. i, 219.— 

 McCali., Pr. A. N. S. 1851, 221.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 645.— Kbnn., P. K. K. 

 Eep. X, 1859, Whipple's Route, Birds, 33. — Heeem., ibid. Parke's Route, BirdS; 

 19.— Bd., Mes. B. Surv. ii, 1859, Birds, 23.— COUES, Ibis, 1866, 4,6 (biogra- 

 phy).— Cooes, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 94.— Dkess., Ibis, 1866, 2d.— Coop., B. 

 Cal. i. 1870, 553.-COUES, Key, 1872, 236.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. iii, 1874, 482, pL 

 64, f. 4, 5. 



CalUpepla gambeli, Gould, Monog. Odont. 1850, pi. 17. — Cass., 111. i, 1853, 45, pi. 9. — 

 Heeem., P. R. R. Rep. x, 1859, Williamson's Route, Birds, 60. 



Callipepla venusta, Gould, P. Z. S. xiv, 1846, 70. 



Lopliortyx " californiciw," CouES, Ibis, 1865, 165 (error). 



