The Valley -Quail of California 383 



than that of the ammunition he had shot away. 

 For the first day or two he was quite likely to 

 return from the field with pockets equally empty 

 of both ammunition and game. 



But persecution has made this quail far more 

 puzzling even to the best expert. Few are the 

 birds to-day that do not run or fly before you are 

 within one hundred yards. We used to think 

 persecution would make them lie better. But it 

 has been the reverse, though their tendency to 

 lie is still the only hope of the sportsman. To- 

 day they travel on the wing for hundreds of yards, 

 even crossing deep and broad canons, whereas 

 fifteen years ago they rarely took to wing unless 

 going to or from roost. Once it was almost a cer- 

 tainty that the largest flock would alight within 

 two hundred yards; and if it flew over a ridge, 

 the chances were many to one that it touched 

 ground soon after passing the crest. Now the 

 flight is twice or thrice and often several times 

 as long. And if they go over a ridge the great 

 puzzle is to know before it is too late on what 

 part of the slope over the next ravine they 

 alighted, or whether they went clear over the 

 second crest ; or whether they went up or down 

 the ravine, which they never used to do. And if 

 you do not quickly settle these points, the whole 

 flock will again be together and under such full 

 leg power that the hunt begins all over again. 



