Nelson.] 364 [January 20, 



COLUMBID^. 



63. Columba faseiata Say. Said to be abundant some sea- 

 sons. I saw only one small flock in October. 



64. Zensedura carolinensis Bonap. Common until the 

 middle of November. Habits the same as in the East, as far as I 

 had opportunity to judge. 



TETRAONIME. 



65. ? Canaee canadensis var. Franklini Coues. I was 

 frequently told of a grouse that came down from the mountains in 

 the winter. From descriptions by hunters who had killed it I con- 

 cluded it was probably this variety. 



66. Oreortyx pictus Baird. Mountain Quail. Rare until 

 the first of October, when it became quite abundant. It is so shy 

 that it is almost impossible to shoot it without a dog. I have seen a 

 flock run across the trail in front of me and hide so effectually that 

 I could find no trace of them afterwards. In November, while camp- 

 ing in the foot-hills, we found them abundant. Just before sunrise 

 every morning their cries (which closely resemble the call of a hen- 

 turkey) resounded on every side. Although I made special effort to 

 find them I failed in seeing a single flock, but the boys trapped large 

 numbers in box-traps. 



67. Lophortyx californicus Bonap. Valley Quail. Abun- 

 dant. Breed on the surrounding hills. The last of August the 

 young'were hardly one-fourth grown. During November they grad- 

 ually descended into the foot-hills and valleys until only a few cov- 

 eys remained. They are easily domesticated. Mr. J. A. Wentworth 

 told me of an instance where he trapped a flock of the two old birds 

 and the young partly grown. After keeping them some time in a 

 coop they escaped, but returned every day when the chickens were 

 fed to take their share, and continued to do this for a long time. 



CHARADRIIME. 



68. JEgialitis vociferus Cassin. Killdeer. Not common ; 

 a few stragglers seen during October. 





