BIRDS. 19 



This bird was first observed in numbers on the Pecos river, although seen some days previous 

 to reaching this point. Its numbers increased as we neared civilization, and near San Antonio it 

 became plentiful. The call of the male bird consists of two notes, (repeated at intervals,) which 

 are less loud, clear, and ringing than those of our common quail, (0. virginianus.) It feeds 

 on the open prairies upon grass seeds, grains, berries, and insects, and if alarmed takes refuge 

 among the scattered mesquite trees and clumps of bushes. When hunted it lays to the dog like 

 our common species, and if flushed flics in a direct line with a loud whirring noise, caused by 

 the shortness and rapid motion of the wings. I found an egg of this bird, which had been 

 dropped upon the road. In form and color it was like that of our common quail though smaller. 



LOPHORTYX GAMBELII, Nutt .— Gambel's Partridge. 



Lophortyx gairibdii, (Nuttal ) Gameel, Proceed. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. vol. I, p. 260, 1843 — Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 645. 



Sp. Ch — Male. — Crest brownish black, composed of six feathers. Front grayish white, each feather having in its centre a 

 longitudinal line of black. A transverse band of white, dividing the top of the head in about two equal portions, runs down the 

 side of the neck, forming a border to the patch of chestnut covering the top and back of the head ; a fine line of black lies 

 between this white line and the chestnut patch. Throat black, encircled by a white band reaching nearly to the eye Upper 

 parts and breast grayish slate, the feathers of the sides and back of the neck having in their centres a delicate longitudinal brown 

 line. Primaries pale ashy brown, inner vanes of tertiaries bordered with cream color. Middle of breast and abdomen cream 

 color, with a large black spot in the centre of the latter. Sides and flanks deep chestnut, each feather with a longitudinal linear 

 spot of white. Under tail coverts with broad bands of ashy brown running down the centre of the feathers. Bill dusky. Feet 

 light brown. Length 9| inches. 



Female. — Crest smaller than male. Throat dirty gray. Breast and upper parts grayish slate, the head having a brownish 

 tinge. Feathers of the neck and breast with a line of brown in their centre. Inner vanes of tertiaries bordered with cream 

 color. Lower part of breast and abdomen cream color, the centre of each feather being marked with a thin line of dark brown. 

 Vent, crissum, and under tail coverts, longitudinally striped with grayish brown. Sides and flanks chestnut, each feather being 

 marked in its centre with a strip of white. The plumage, where of similar marking, is paler in its coloring than in the male bird. 

 Bill dusky. Feet light brown. Length 9 inches. 



From Fort Yuma, on the Colorado, to Eagle Springs, between El Paso and San Antonio, 

 where we last saw a flock of these birds, we found them more or less abundant whenever we 

 followed the course of the Gila or struck water holes or streams of any kind. Although 

 frequenting the most arid portions of the country, where they find but a scanty subsistence of 

 grass seeds, mesquite beans, and insects, still they show a preference for the habitation of man, 

 being much more numerous in the cultivated fields of Tucson, Mesilla valley, and El Paso. 

 Towards evening, in the vicinity of the Mexican villages, the loud call note of the male bird is 

 heard, gathering the scattered members of the flock, previous to issuing from the cover where 

 they have been concealed during the day. Resorting to the trails and roads in search of sub- 

 sistence, they utter while thus engaged a low soft note which keeps the flock together. They 

 are not of a wild nature, often permitting a near approach, and seldom fly unless suddenly 

 flushed, but prefer to escape from danger by retreating to the dense thickets. 



CALLIPEPLA SQUAMATA, Gray .—Scaly Partridge. 



Ortyx squamatus, ViG. Zool. Journ. vol. V, 1830, p. 275. 

 CttUipepla squamata, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 1858, 646. 



Sp. Ch. — Male. — Head light rusty ash ; feathers of the crown light brown tipped with white. Throat pale cream color. 

 Upper parts bluish ash, assuming a rusty tinge on the rump. Wings light brown; tertiaries margined on their inner vanes with 

 white. Under parts pale bluish ash, becoming pale cream color on lower portions of abdomen and vent, the centre of the 

 abdomen being marked with a pale rust patch. The feathers of the breast and abdomen with a central light brown arrow head 

 and fringed with a narrow border of darker hue, while those of the back of the neck have the outer fringe well marked, though 



