THE GAME BREEDER 



13 



uations, or, as is frequently the case, 

 perches in the trees. This custom is 

 habitual to it, for it is quite an arboreal 

 bird, taking refuge on the branches of 

 trees or bushes if suddenly alarmed, or 

 when the members of a flock become 

 scattered after having been compelled to 

 take wing. The mating season com- 

 mences quite early in the spring, say the 

 month of April, and the male presents 

 a very handsome appearance as with 

 erect body, dignified movements, puffed- 

 out feathers and trailing, trembling 

 wings, he moves sedately before the gaze 

 of his shy lady-love. She is a modestly 

 attired little body, similar, but still quite 

 different in dress to her lord, lacking the 

 strongly contrasting colors upon the 

 head, and the great black patch on the 

 belly. The glossy, jet black, graceful 

 plume of many feathers, that decorates 

 the head of the male, opening and clos- 

 ing, as his frequent changes of feelings 

 exert their influence, is in the female re- 

 duced to small proportions, and dusky in 

 hue. 



The nest is simply a hollow scratched 

 out in the soil, sometimes lined with 

 grass or leaves, and concealed from view 

 by tall grass, or by some overhanging 

 bush, or else hidden away amid the 

 vegetation that springs up in the dry 

 beds of the creeks. In fact any spot that 

 will afford the necessary protection and 

 concealment is taken advantage of, and 

 the eggs removed from the view of pry- 

 ing enemies. Doubtless, however, many 

 are taken by reptiles such as snakes of 

 various kinds, and even the gila mon- 

 ster has been known to have made a 

 meal on the eggs of this species. The 

 usual number found in a nest is from 

 twelve to fifteen; and these have a 

 ground color varying from a creamy 



'Many of the eggs laid this year at the Game 

 Farms of the Long Island Game Breeders' 

 Association were marked with brown without 

 the purplish bloom as will appear from the 

 illustration on the cover of The Game Breeder. 

 Since many Gambels and Bob Whites will be 

 produced and taken, "not otherwise than by 

 shooting" on farms where there was no game, 

 we hope many sportsmen will be convinced 

 that they can have quail shooting if they wish 

 to do so. 



white to a pale buff, irregularly spotted 

 and blotched with dark seal, sometimes 

 almost blackish, brown, drab or rufous, 

 all suffused with a peculiar purplish 

 bloom. 1 Occasionally a nest is found 

 placed in a tree, or cactus, a few feet 

 from the ground, the bird, doubtless, 

 having lost the eggs previously laid, had 

 sought a more secure refuge from her 

 terrestrial foes. The period of incuba- 

 tion extends to about four weeks, and 

 probably two broods are raised in a sea- 

 son. The birds do not seem to have any 

 regular time to commence laying, some 

 being much later than others, and on this 

 account, and the number of broods 

 raised, young or halfgrown birds are met 

 with nearly throughout the entire sum- 

 mer. The pretty little downy chicks 

 run as soon as hatched, and soon become 

 exceedingly expert in hiding, which they 

 are quick to do at the warning chirp of 

 the mother, squatting close to the 

 ground and remaining absolutely motion- 

 less, or crawling under leaves, or any 

 shelter that is available. Danger past, at 

 a cluck from the anxious mother, who 

 all the time has probably been crouching 

 near by, watching her brood, the chicks 

 gather around her, and are led to a more 

 retired and secure locality. When able 

 to use their wings and fly with some de- 

 gree of freedom, the young take refuge 

 in the trees and perch on the branches, 

 but as they grow older the one partic- 

 ular habit they have inherited prevails 

 over all the rest, and their legs are de- 

 pended upon for escape more than upon 

 any other means at their disposal, and 

 they run with considerable swiftness, 

 only using the wings as the last resort. 



Gambel's partridge has many enemies, 

 foremost among which is man, both 

 white and red, who destroys vast num- 

 bers both with gun and snares of vari- 

 ous ingenuity. Hawks, wolves, foxes, 

 and other predatory animals kill num- 

 bers, and doubtless many fall a prey to 

 rattlesnakes and other reptiles. Still if 

 the species only had to combat with its 

 natural enemies, it would probably be 

 able to maintain itself in undiminished 

 numbers, but whenever man, especially 



