118 LAND BIRDS 



of the 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. — Lophoriyx 

 californicus. 



Family : The Grouse, Partridges, Quails, etc. 



Length : 9.50. 



Adult Male : Crest black ; nape dusky brown, bordered by black and 

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

 the sides of the back ; throat black, bordered by white ; breast slate- 

 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 chestnut on under parts ; sides 

 streaked with white. 



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

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



Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast region from Monterey to Oregon. 



Breeding Range : Nearly coincident with the Geographical Distribution. 



Breeding Season : April and May. 



Nest: 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; buffy, 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 

 canons 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 



