PAINTED QUAIL 513 



declared juicier and more finely flavored than that of the Valley 

 Quail. But its comparatively small numbers, even under normal con- 

 ditions, the difficulty attendant upon reaching its habitat, and the fact 

 that it does not lie well to dogs, deter many sportsmen from hunting 

 the species. Except when the birds may be out of their natural habitat, 

 as during their fall migration, it takes stiff hard climbing and a deal 

 of patience to get a limit of ten. 



In former years Mountain Quail were commonly sold on the 

 markets of San Francisco. In some instances they were trapped along 

 the western flanks of the Sierras and sent to the markets alive. Mr. 

 A. E. Skelton, of El Portal, has reported to us that while shooting 

 for the market near Raymond, Madera County, many years ago he 

 averaged about a dozen and a half Mountain Quail a day. The birds 

 then brought from $2.50 to $4.00 per dozen. At the present time it 

 is illegal to sell quail of any sort, except for propagation and then 

 under permit only. The rapid diminution of Mountain Quail has 

 already given hunters and others considerable concern. 



As this quaU is a species which inhabits the uncultivated moun- 

 tainous districts of the state it ought to be possible to treat it so that 

 it can persist in maximum numbers. It would seem that a complete 

 close period for a number of years, so as to allow the species to 

 recuperate, is a measure which could be put in force every time serious 

 diminution becomes apparent. In practice such a close period, recur- 

 rent every few years, as necessitated, would probably solve the problem 

 to the greatest advantage of the hunter. 



We may cite as an instance of what could be expected, the close 

 season of only two years (1909 to 1911) which was followed by a 

 notable increase of the birds. The fact that the Mountain Quail 

 breeds more slowly than the Valley Quail necessitates different treat- 

 ment of the two species in our laws. In one way this is already met 

 in the difference in bag limit, ten in the case of the Mountain as 

 against flfteen in the Valley Quail. 



The recent establishment (1915) of game refuges in National 

 Forests in several sections of the state is also a wise provision even 

 from the sportsman 's viewpoint ; for adjacent areas may thus become 

 stocked up with minimum discouragement to the hunter. 



Painted Quail 



Oreortyx picta picta (Douglas) 



Other names — Mountain Quail, part; Mountain Partridge; CalUpepla picta, 

 part; Oreortyx pieta plumifera, part; Ortyx picta, part. 



Description — ^Essentially the same as for the Mountain Quail (0. p. plumi- 

 fera). In adult plumage, a slightly greater depth of coloration; brown of back 



