ZOOLOGY. 135 
the Atlantic and Pacific quails are nearly alike, and may be 
represented by the syllables “hi-re-he.’—‘ As a game-bird,” 
says Dr. Newberry, “the Californian quail is inferior to the 
Eastern one, though perhaps of equal excellence for the table. 
It does not lie as well to the dog, and does not afford a good 
sport. It also takes a tree more readily than the Atlantic 
quail. Like its Eastern relative, the cock-bird is very fond of 
sitting on some stump or log projecting above the grass and 
weeds which conceal his mate and nest or brood, and espe 
cially in the early morning, uttering his peculiar ery.” 
The plumed quail (Oreortyx pictus), likewise called the 
“mountain quail,” while the Lophortyx californicus is often 
styled the “valley quail,” is peculiar to this coast, and is one of 
the most beautiful features of its ornithology. Itis a partridge 
ten inches long, very plump in shape, handsome in color, ma- 
jestic in its bearing, and graceful in motion. Its head is sur- 
mounted by a crest of two straight feathers, three and a half 
inches long, which hang backward, one immediately over the 
other. The breast and neck are lead-colored, the upper parts 
generally olive-brown ; the throat, and head beneath the eyes, 
orange-chestnut; the abdomen white. There are numerous 
variegations of white, black, and minor shades, on the plumage, 
all contributing to heighten its beauty. 
The mountain partridge lives in the hills and mountains, 
from the Tejon Pass to the Columbia River. Its song sug- 
gests the sound represented by the word “ whoit,” whistled 
fuller and louder than the song of the Californian quail. It 
roosts upon the ground; and if bushes be near, in which to 
hide, it will rather run than fly from its enemies. It seldom 
flies more than two hundred yards at a time. The cock is 
equally attentive with the hen to the young brood, which usu- 
ally varies from eight to twelve in number. The families seem 
to be much attached to each other, and if they are scattered, 
they are very uneasy until all are collected again. In such 
cases, the hunter can entice them to come to him by imitating 
the call of either old or young. They are easily domesticated 
