438 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



*155. Zensedura carolinensis, (Linn.). — Mourning Uorc. 



The Mourning Dove is abundant in all parts of the valleys and foot- 

 hills in summer, at which time it is rather common between Murphy's 

 and Big Trees, though found principally in the open places of the forest. 



It is rare at Stockton in winter, though quite common at Marysville 

 during the same time. Flocks of fifty or a hundred may be found every 

 winter at the latter place, although not nearly so abundant at that time 

 as in summer. 



At Murphy's, August 29, 1878, I found two nests, both of which con- 

 tained eggs. Two days later I found young birds in one of them. 



Family TETEAOOTD^E : The Grouse. 



^156. Canace obscura, (Say). — Dusky Grouse. 



This fine game bird is quite abundant near the summit of the Sierra 

 Nevada, latitude 39°, and a few breed at Big Trees, where I once found 

 a nest containing seven eggs, which is about as many as they ever lay, 

 judging by the many flocks of young birds of less number which I 

 have seen. They utter, from a tree, when alarmed, the same " Jcu7c } Jcukf 

 as nearly as I remember, a Prairie Chicken (Cwpidonia cupldo) does 

 under similar circumstances. In August and September the males keep 

 by themselves, and are generally found singly. Toward the last of Sep- 

 tember I have had much difficulty in finding this bird at places where it 

 had previously been common. The explanation may be that they are 

 then in the tall, dense evergreens, or have, as they are said to do, gone 

 well up the adjacent peaks, or, possibly, lower down ; but this last is not 

 likely, as they do not appear to be more numerous at Big Trees or the 

 lower portion of their range in winter than in summer. I have not seen 

 it at or several hundred feet above Murphy's. 



It is said to remain in pari Lcular trees much of the time in winter, and 

 to be found by hunters by its droppings on the snow. 



Family PERDIOID M : The Partridges and Quails. 



"157. Oreortyx picta, (Douglas). — Californian M<>k ntain Quail. 



This Quail is a common summer resident of the Sierra from an ele- 

 vation of about 4,000 feet to 8,500 feet, and is generally distributed 

 throng] i the forest except where there is unusual scarcity of water or 

 Where the herbage is closely grazed by sheep. A few breed near Mur- 

 phy's and 1 >etween that place and Big Trees. Every winter it is common 

 in the upper edge of the chaparral belt in Calaveras County, and it is 

 usually common in November in Yuba County at an altitude of six 

 hundred feet or less; while near Oroville and on the Honcnt Creek, I 

 have seen it nearly on a level with the Sacramento Valley. 



When scattered, their call is much like that of young turkeys. In 

 breeding season, the male has a loud, modulated, very agreeable note. 

 They hatched at Big Trees about July 8, 1878. Their eggs are cream- 



