Bird Life Through the Camera. 
ment is called for here, but the additional photo is introduced 
at it gives a much better and clearer idea of the markings 
and of the bird generally than the one produced in our last 
issue. 
Californian Quail (Lophortyx calif ornic us). Our last 
photos for this issue figure this handsome species brooding 
several chicks — they were rather more nervous of my hiding 
tent that the finches appeared to be. 
I only discovered the nest just as the eggs were chipping, 
so had to get the best result I could with such little time 
for preparation. 
They are very easy to cater for, feeding principally on 
canary and millet seeds, and no doubt picking over the soft 
food placed there for the other birds and capturing many 
insects . 
The nest is merely a hollow scraped out at the root 
of a bush or in coarse grass, and the eggs deposited therein. 
This appears to be common to all the Quails — they lay a 
prodigious number of eggs if some are removed, but I do not 
consider this advisable — I certainly have found the yovmg 
thrive much better if left with their natural parents, than 
when the eggs are placed under Bantams, etc. and so reared. 
The young thrive well on any fine ground biscuit and 
meat meal and soon pick up seed — custard is also very useful 
in bringing these birds on. 
I have seen the male assist the hen in brooding the 
chicks, and he always takes a deal of interest in the doings of 
the hen and her progeny. 
Description: Adult male. The crest is black and 
formed of club-shaped feathers; throat and cheeks black mar- 
gined with white; eyebrow stripes white; sides and back of 
neck, mantle, chest and tail grey, which on the neck is mar- 
gined with black and sjiotted with white ; lower back, rump, and 
wings, greyish olive-brown; breast bulT, merging into bright 
chestnut on the abdomen, and margined with black; sides of 
body greyish -oliv(>. Total length 9J inches, tail 3|. 
Adult female: The crest is shorter and browner; there 
are no black and white head markings; thi'oat white with dark 
shaft streaks; neck, mantle and breast greyish -brown; the 
under parts are white, slightly washed with buff on the ab- 
