THE SAN PEDEO PARTKIDGE. 17 



8. Oreortyx pictus confinis Anthony. 



SAN PEDRO PARTRIDGE. 



Oreortyx pictus confinis Anthony, Proceedings California Academy Sciences, 2d ser. , 



II, October 11, 1889, 74. 

 (B — , C — , R — , C — , U 292b.) 



Geographical range: San Pedro Mountains, Lower California (and southward ?). 



This recently described subspecies differs from Oreortyx pictus plumiferus 

 in its grayer upper parts and thicker bill. 



Mr. A. W. Anthony, who discovered this new race, writes me that the 

 breeding range of the San Pedro Partridge extends from the foothills along the 

 base of the San Pedro Mountains, Lower California, to the tops of the highest 

 peaks, estimated at about 12,500 feet. It is not common below an altitude of 

 2,500 feet. He says: "The first call notes are heard about the last of February, 

 a soft-tuned, far-reaching 'chay-chay,' as mellow and sweet as the notes of a 

 flute. The alarm note when surprised is a soft, loud, ' ch-ch-ch-e-e-ea, 

 ch-e-e-ea,' which, as the danger becomes more evident, becomes harder, sound- 

 ing like 'kee-kee-ke-ea,' which is taken up by each member of the covey as 

 they gradually draw away, and long after the last of the band has disappeared 

 the soft chorus floats back from the mazanitas and lilacs which clothe the hills 

 where this subspecies is found. Frequently a loud 'pit-pit' is heard as they 

 take wing, but they are more silent when on the wing than Callipepla califomica. 

 A few pairs bred about my camp at Valladares Creek, 6 miles from' the base of 

 the range and about 2,500 feet above the sea level, but nearly all of the flocks 

 that wintered along the creek at this point disappeared by March, leaving only 

 an occasional pair, which sought the shelter of the manzanitas high up on the 

 hillsides, from whence their clear, mellow notes were heard morning and 

 evening, so suggestive of cool brooks and rustling pines, but so out of place 

 in the hot barren hills of this region. 



"The only eggs I have taken were found at my camp on the Valladares 

 Creek, March 29, 1889. The nest, placed in the midst of thick manzanita cha- 

 parral high up on a hillside having a northern exposure, consisted of a mere 

 hollow under a manzanita bush, lined, or rather filled, with dry leaves of the 

 lilac and manzanita, and contained but a single egg. The female, which I shot 

 as she left the nest, was about to deposit a second, which I secured upon 

 skinning her." Mr. Anthony further states that the eggs of the San Pedro 

 Partridge resemble those of the Plumed Partridge in shape and color, being 

 creamy white and unspotted. The two specimens measure 36 by 28 and 37 by 

 27 millimetres, respectively. 

 26957— Bull. 1 2 



