MOUNTAIN QUAIL {Oreortyx picta 

 picta). This, the largest of the quail, meas- 

 ing II in. in length, is an abundant species 

 in certain portions of Washington, Oregon 

 and California. It is found in humid regions, 

 while the very similar race, known as Plumed 

 Quail, inhabits arid regions of the same states. 

 The former has the upper parts slightly 

 browner than the latter, a distinction that 

 interests ornithologists but is of no conse- 

 quence among sportsmen. During the hunt- 

 ing season they go about in small flocks. 

 They are difficult to put up with a dog, for 

 they are very fleet of foot and trust to their 

 legs rather than to their wings whenever pos- 

 sible. If they are flushed, they separate and 

 do not flock together again for some time, 

 so that it is necessary to hunt them out one 

 by one. This is very different from the 

 actions of Bobwhite under similar circum- 

 stances, for within a few minutes they will 

 commence calling and soon the remnant of 

 the flock wOl have been united. The flesh of 

 this species is regarded as excellent, in fact 

 almost as good as that of the eastern quail. 



The call of the male is a short hoarse crow, 

 similar to that of a young bantam rooster. 

 The female is plumaged quite like the male, 

 but differs in having much shorter plumes. 

 Their eight or ten eggs, which are laid in a 

 grass-lined depression under a bush or log, 

 are rather bright creamy-buff with no markings, or very faint ones. 



SCALED QUAIL {Callipepla squamata squamata). There are two races 

 of this species, the present one, which is found in southern Colorado, Arizona, 

 New Mexico and Texas, and the Chestnut-belhed Scaled Quail, which is 

 found in the Lower Sonoran zone of southern Texas. The latter variety is 

 much like the former, except that the back is slightly browner, the under parts 

 more buffy and the male has a patch of chestnut on the belly. They inhabit 

 the chaparral and mesquite in dry washes and foothills and, like most western 

 species, trust to their legs chiefly to take them away from danger. Com- 

 monly called "Blue Quafl." 



MOUNTAIN QUAIL 

 SCALED QUAIL 



47 



