CALIFOSNIA QUAIL— CATALINA ISLAND QUAIL 537 



proved in many instances. Given the proper protection from excessive 

 hunting, through moderate open season and bag limit, and perhaps 

 further assistance by the destruction of their worst natural enemies, 

 and they will remain with us as a joy forever. We can then say, with 

 Florence Merriam Bailey (1902, p. 121), that they are still the game 

 birds of California ; " . . . the roads are stiU patterned with their foot- 

 prints, and through the valleys they are closely associated with the 

 charm of the mellow California days, their melodious who-are-you-ah ? 

 coming from the hillsides in the cool mornings when the high fog is 

 dissolving into blue sky, coming from the chaparral in the warm noon- 

 day hours, and echoing softly from the vineyards through the quiet 

 golden sunsets." 



California Quail 



Lophortyx californica californica (Shaw) 



Othek names — California Partridge, part; Lophortyx calif omica hrunnescens ; 

 Lophortyx californica vallioola, part; CaJlipepla californica, part; Tetrao caii- 

 fomicus; Ortyx californica, part. 



Description — Adults: Similar to Valley Quail {Lophortyx californica valli- 

 cola) but upper surface and sides of body olive brown (pi. 1) rather than 

 grayish brown, and inner margins of tertial feathers deep bufEy or ochraceous 

 rather than pale buffy or whitish. Jv/venUe plwmage: Like that of Valley Quail, 

 but with tawny suffusion above, and ochraceous tinge below; dark markings 

 everywhere greater in extent. 



Marks for tield identification — See under Valley Quail. Probably not dis- 

 tinguishable except in hand. 



General distribution — Humid coast region (fog belt) of the Pacific district 

 from southwestern Oregon south to southern Monterey County; introduced into 

 Vancouver Island and Washington. 



Distribution in CaIiIFOENIa — Abundant resident of the narrow humid coast 

 strip (fog belt) from the Oregon line south to southern Monterey County. (See 

 Valley Quail.) 



For general account, see Valley Quail. 



Catalina Island Quail 



Lophortyx californica catalinensis Grinnell 



Other names — Lophortyx catalinensis ; Lophortyx californica vallicola, part. 



Description — Adults: Similar to the Valley Quail (Lophortyx calif omica 

 vallicola) but averaging about 7% larger; scaling on lower breast slightly heavier, 

 and shaft streaks on flanks and lower tail coverts broader. Males: folded wing 

 4.46-4.71 inches (113.5-119.5 mm.) ; bill along culmen 0.40-0.42 (10.2-10.7) ; tarsus 

 1.18-1.26 (30.0-32.0) (three specimens). Females: folded wing 4.57-4.65 (116- 

 118); bill along culmen 0.41-0.43 (10.4-10.9); tarsus 1.18-1.24 (30.0-31.4) (three 

 specimens). 



