QUAILS, PARTRIDGES, GROUSE 



(295) Lophortyx gambeli 



Gambel (Gr., a crest, a quaii). 



GAMBEL'S QUAIL. Ad. cf — 

 Plumage as shown. Head with a 

 handsome crest of recurved feathers 

 about eight of them usually carried 

 in one packet but capable of being 

 separated at will. Notice that the 

 forehead is black, the crown chest- 

 nut and the flanks chestnut, thus 

 differing decidedly from the crested 

 California Quail, which has these 

 areas whitish, brown and gray re- 

 spectively. The 9 has a smaller 

 crest and lacks the black on head and 

 belly but has the chestnut flanks. 

 L., 10.50; W., 4.2s; Tar., 1.25; T., 

 3-7S- -Egf!^ — Eight to sixteen, buff, 

 spotted and splashed with brown, 

 1.25 .X 1. 00. 



Range — Western Tex., Utah, Nev. 

 and southern Cal. southward. 



The little buff-colored, striped chicks are led through the 

 fields and taught how to catch the insects that are best 

 for them. They have a very watchful mother, who never 

 allows them to stray far from the protection of tall grass or 

 brush. If surprised during one of their rambles, at a warn- 

 ing cluck, every chick dives for shelter, while the mother 

 runs ahead of you squealing and giving a beautiful imitation 

 of the way a wounded bird should act. Each chick, mean- 

 while is absolutely motionless — practically out of sight, 

 even though protected by but a single blade of grass; nor 

 will they move until touched. When the danger is removed, 

 a single whistle from the hen brings every little one scamper- 

 ing to her as fast as their little legs can carry them, and they 

 can run very swiftly. Many times I have followed the 

 mother until she had decoyed me to what she thought a 

 safe distance and, as soon as she took wing, hastened back 

 and concealed myself so as to witness the assembling of the 

 little family — or perhaps I should say the large family of 

 little ones. 



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