FOREST AND STREAM. 
fNov. 2|, 1905, 
4So 
Vagaries of the Ruffed Grouse. 
Beaumaris, Nov. 12 . — Editor Forest andStream: Re- 
cent notes on the peculiar freaks of ruffed grouse at 
certain seasons of the year, particularly the fall, bring 
to my recollection several instances where these birds 
have flown against buildings and other obstructions. 
The object of this letter is to tell of something which 
occurred only a few moments ago. 
I was walking along the shore of Lake Muskoka, 
and was just passing a summer residence when I heard 
a whirr of wings, saw a ruffed grouse fly and then 
heard a loud, dull thud. On going down to the boat 
house, which is .situated about twemy yards from where 
the bird rose, I found a ruffed grouse lying on the 
ground at the side of the boat house, with one of its 
wings extended, as though hurt. On going toward it, 
and when within two yards or so, it fluttered under the 
boat house, and must have escaped between some of 
the logs of the crib-work, as I did not get another 
glimpse of it. 
On another occasion, in the fall of the year, I was 
estimating some pine timber on an island, and took _my 
gun with me; I did not see any birds, but on arriving 
at the hotel about dusk, as I was standing on the 
outer edge of the verandah, a ruffed grouse coolly 
walked out from under the verandah with its usual 
jerky strut, directly under where I was standing. Need- 
less to say I did not shoot it, and nothing would have 
induced me to do so under the circumstances. 
I do not think these freaks are confined to the ruffed 
grouse, as I remember when a boy— we lived in the 
suburbs of a town in England, and several miles from 
any place where game birds were likely to be found — 
I was in the garden, and an English partridge flew up 
from under an apple tree. A boy friend of mine also 
shot an English hen pheasant a few hundred yards from 
my home. I regret not having any means of ascertain- 
ing the season of the year of the latter occurrences, but 
am convinced that these birds rvere possessed by a 
craze similar to that shown by our ruffed grouse. 
Can it be that these birds have received a pellet of 
shot, which, although not proving fatal, has been suf- 
ficient to craze them to a certain extent? This solu- 
tion has occurred to me because so many of these 
peculiar events happen in the fall, and therefore in the 
open season. 
I may mention that there is a scarcity of ruffed grouse 
in most parts of our northern country this fall. On the 
first and second days of the open seaspn a friend and 
myself drove about sixty miles on unfrequented bush 
roads, and although we had good dogs, we only bagged 
twenty-six birds, most of these being old birds ' and 
singles; we came across very few coveys. Last year 
my friend bagged between sixty and seventy birds, go- , 
ing over the same ground. This number, I must ac- 
knowledge, I consider far too many for any single _ 
individual to shoot. If a little moderation was exer- 
cised, we would have game for all time to come, arid I 
have no sympathy with those who do not know when 
they have enough J. H. W. 
The Quails of the United States. 
BY SYLVESTER D. JUDD, ASSISTANT, BIOLOGICAl SURVEY. 
{Continued from page ill.) 
Miscellaneous Animal Food. 
Insects of several orders not previously mentioned 
make up 0.70 per cent, of the food of the bbbwhite. They . 
include hymenopterous insects, such as (_Lasius sp., ■ . 
Tetramorium cerspitum, Camponotus peiinsylvanicus) ; 
gall flies (Synipidee), which produce , bladder-like 
growths on plants; in rare instances 'pa^K^sitic wasps 
{Tiphia inornata and Proctotrypes crane flies. 
May flies, and sometimes true flies, like the green fly 
(Lucilia ceesar) and the robber fly (Asilidce). The ani- 
mal food of the bird includes other orders besides insects. 
The greater part of this is spiders, chiefly ground spiders, 
with a few harvest- spiders {P halaitgidcs) The common 
thousand-leg (Julus sp.) sometimes contributes to the 
food, as it often does to that of many^ species of song 
birds. Snails are more often taken, j^i^qng these Pupa 
armifera and the pond snail (Succinea avara) have been 
identified. The little fresh water lobster' c^led crayfish 
(Cambarus) had furnished the major course fqr four out 
of fifteen birds shot by collectors for S. ' AC,’. Forbes in 
Illinois. Manipulation of these biting crustaceans would 
appear to be difficult for a bird no larger than bobwhite. 
The queerest food eaten is the toad. B. H. Warren_ re- 
ported Florida birds as feeding on small batrachians 
(probably young toads), and laboratory examination of 
Florida birds showed in one case a tiny toad. It is fortu- 
nate that this habit of bobwhite is not general, since the 
toad is useful and destroys great numbers of insects. 
Food of the Young. 
During the breeding season a third of the food of adult 
bobwhites consists of insects, while their young, like those 
of practically all other land birds, consume a much 
greater proportion of insect food than do their parents. 
At Marshall Hall, July 24, nineteen droppings collected 
from two broods of downy chicks — ^one but a few hours 
out of the shell and the other probably several days old 
— consisted wholly of the remains of insects. Their frag- 
mentary condition made the species almost unrecogniz- 
able, but the following were identified : Minute green 
leaf-eating beetles (Chrysomelidce), at least two species; 
leaf-eating beetle (Colaspis brutvnea) ; small scarabseid 
beetles {S carabceidee) , two species; longicorn beetle 
{Cerambycidee) , one species; ground beetles {Carabidee) , 
five species : weevils (Rhynchophora) ; grasshopper 
(Acrididee) ; caterpillars (Lepidoptera) ; ants (Formi- 
cidee) ; stink bug (Euschistusf) ; spiders (Arachnida) ; 
thousand-legs {Juhis sp.). 
Masked Bobwhite. 
{Colinus ridgzmyi.) 
The masked bobwhite is slightly smaller than the 
bobwhite of the Eastern States, and the male differs 
strikingly, having the chin, throat, and sides of the head 
black, and the underside of the body usually uniform 
rust3' reddish. Since the discovery of the bird little has 
been added to our knowledge of its life history beyond 
some notes on its distribution, and the fact of its 
probable extinction within our borders. It lived 011 
grassy plains covering a limited area in southern 
Arizona, south and southwest of Tuscon, and ranged 
into northern Sonora, Mexico. In regard to the 
causes leading to the disappearance of the masked bob- 
white, Herbert Brown writes as follows: 
“The causes leading to the extermination of the 
Arizona masked bobwhite {Colinus ridgwayi) are due to 
the overstocking of the country with cattle, supple- 
mented by several rainless years. This combination 
practically stripped the country bare of vegetation. 
Of their range the Colinus occupied only certain re- 
stricted portions, and when their food and shelter had 
been trodden out of existence by thousands of hunger- 
dying stock, there was nothing left for poor little bob- 
white to do but go out with them. As the conditions 
in Sonora were similar to those in Arizona, birds and 
cattle suffered in common. The Arizona bobwhite 
would have thriven well in an agricultural country, in 
brushy fence corners, tangled thickets, and weed- 
covered fields, but such things were not to be had in' 
their habitat. Unless a few can still be found on the 
Upper Santa Cruz we can, in truth, bid them a final 
good-by.”* 
Recent information received by the Biological Survey 
from Sonora is to the effect that these interesting birds 
still survive in parts of that region, and efforts are being 
made by a game association to obtain living birds from 
there to introduce into California. The natural home 
of the masked bobwhite, in the hot and arid desert of 
southern. Arizona and northern Sonora, is sufficient 
guaranty that the birds would thrive in cultivated 
sections anywhere in southern California and the arid 
Southwest. It would be deplorable if so handsome and 
useful a bird should be allowed to become extinct, and 
a determined effort should be made to introduce it into 
suitable localities before it is too late. 
Beyond what Herbert Brown has stated we have 
practically nothing on this bird’s habits. He has told 
us that, like all the birds of the genus Colinus, the males 
give the well-known “bobwhite” call, and he translates 
their rallying note as “hoo-we.” He. examined the 
stomachs of three birds. The first contained mustard 
seed, chaparral berries, six or eight beetles, and other 
insects; the second only a single grasshopper an inch 
long, and the third contained twenty ants, several 
crescent-shaped seeds, and a large number of small, 
fleshy green leaves. 
It is stated by Bendire that in Sonora Benson found 
these birds only in fields where wheat and barley had 
been grown.' Probably then the bird’s general habits 
may be safely assumed to be similar to those of its 
relative, bobwhite. 
’ California Q jail. 
{Lophortyx calif ornicus.)\ 
The California quail is generally dispersed over Cali- 
fornia below an altitude of 8,000 feet and extends into 
southern Oregon and western Nevada. It has been 
introduced into Washington and British Columbia, 
and efforts to . introduce it into the Hawaiian Isl- 
ands also have proved very successful, although of 
late years its numbers there, have been much re- 
duced by the mongoose, by which in time it is 
likbly to be exterminated. Twp geographic forms of 
the-, bird are recognized, a dark form and a light one, 
but as they do not differ in habits they are not dis- 
tinguished in the following account. It -is a beautiful 
bird with a most pleasing combination of colors and 
markings, its head being adorned by a glossy black 
crest, narrow at the base and gradually widening into 
gracefully recurving plumes, and the markings on the 
underparts resembling scales. It frequents brush- 
covered hillsides, canons, thickets along water courses 
. and the borders of roads, as well as vineyards and other 
cultivated fields. The nesting time of the species varies 
considerably according to locality and conditions. Ac- 
cording to E. A. Mearns it nests in March and April in 
Ventura .County, Cal. Nests containing eggs were 
found during the last -week of May in Tulare County, 
Cal., by J. E. McLellan. The eggs usually number 12 
to 15, and are white or buff with spots. 
These birds take kindly to civilization, and flocks are 
not rarely seen in the suburbs of large towns, where 
they range through the gardens and orchards. They 
often nest close to farm buildings, and W. Otto Emer- 
son states that a pair nested within a rod of his front 
door, though nearly every hour people and vehicles 
were passing within four feet of the nest. 
Instead of spending the night in a circle on the ground, 
like the bobwhite, the California quail chooses much 
safer places and roosts in bushes or low thickly foliaged 
trees. This quail is even more confiding than the bob- 
white, and frequently comes about farm buildings to 
eat with the chickens. It has been known to lay in 
confinement, and appears to yidld readily to semi-do- 
mestication. 
. The valley quail has acquired the interesting habit of 
posting sentinels when feeding, which is described in 
detail by John J. Williams. Mr. Williams observed a 
flock enter a field and begin to feed, while a sentinel 
took his station in a peach tree and scanned the country 
round about for danger. Presently he was relieved by 
a second bird, who took up a position on a brush pile 
and a little later was relieved by a third, who kept guard 
while the other two fed with the flock. 
Writing in 1891 Clark P. Streator says that about 
100,000 are sold each year in the San Francisco market. 
It is not a perfect game bird, for it does not lie well to 
a dog, and when once flushed has a habit of running 
that is exasperating to the sporlsman. The best way to 
hunt these quail is to keep the dog at heel and to run 
down the birds. This is likely to make them take wing 
and to break up the covey. The same result may be 
accomplished also by discharging the gun in the air. 
When a covey has been scattered in suitable cover they 
will lie well enough to a trained dog to give the hunter 
~^k., XXI., p. 213, April, 1904. 
tThis name is used here to cover both the typical California quail 
{Lophortyx calif or nicus), and the paler, more southerly form, 
called the valley quail (L. c. vallicota). 
considerable sport, though it is poor in coinparison with 
that afforded by the bobwhite. The beauty of this quail, 
its pleasant call notes, and its confidence in man make 
it a favorite, except where it damages the grape crop. 
In fall and winter where it is abundant hundreds of 
birds unite in great packs. Bendire, writing in 18 2, 
says that within a decade packs of 500 were often foun.d, 
but that at that time coveys even of 50 were rare in 
most places. In the fall of 1891 they were still very 
abundant on the west side of the ,San Joaquin Valley, 
where E. W. Nelson, of the Biological Survey, records 
their slaughter by pot-hunters. The hunters stationed 
themselves behind a brush blind near the one spring 
where the birds came to drink. Thousands of them 
flocked thither for water during the day, and by waiting 
until many birds were bunched the hunters killed at 
least a score at each discharge of the gun. In a week 
of this butchery 8,400 quails were killed. A record of 
525 birds to four guns in a day in February, 1903, near 
San Diego, Cal., shows that birds are still abundant 
there, though far less numerous in most places than 
formerly. 
Tlie California quail, though not a large consumer of 
insects, is a useful bird, since weed seeds constitute 
more than half of its food. In some regions these 
birds suffer from the curtailment of their food supply 
by droughts, and in the northern part of their range 
many are killed by severe winters. Bendire states that 
during the excessively cold winter of 1887-88, when the 
mercury dropped to 28 below zero in the northeastern 
corner of California, these quail perished in great 
numbers. 
The California quail might be introduced successfully 
in many sections between California and Texas where 
it does not occur at present. It already has been in- 
troduced into Colorado, where it will be protected by 
law at all seasons until 1920. Laws to prevent trapping 
and to limit the day’s bag, together with absolute pro- 
tection in sections where necessary, should suffice to 
preserve this beautiful species. : 
Food Habit?* 
The general food habits of this quail have been ascer- 
tained by the examination of 601 stomachs, and it 
proves to be one of the most largely vegetarian of 
game birds. The material for investigation was col- 
lected in California, and represents every month of the 
year except May. Insects furnished but 2.15 per cent, of 
the food, and leaves, seeds, and fruit 97.85 per cent. 
Insect and Other Animal Food. 
The 2.15 per cent, of anirnal food eaten by this quail 
is distributed as follows: Spiders, 0.03 per cent.; beetles, 
0.22 per cent.; grasshoppers and crickets, 0.24 per cent.; 
ants and other Hymenoptera, 0.67 per cent; miscellan- 
eous insects, 0.99 per cent. The beetles are both adults 
and larvse. Like the eastern bobwhite, the California 
quail feeds on ants of the families Formicidcc and 
Myrmicidcc. Sometimes twenty to- thirty-five ants are 
taken at a meal. Of the other Hymenoptera, gall in- 
sects and their galls make a significant proportion. 
Caterpillars and their pupae are eaten. Cutworms, 
measuring worms, sphinx, caterpillars, and the cotton 
bollworm make up the greater part of this food. Like 
the bobwhite again, this bird shows a relish for bugs. 
It eats leaf bugs, bugs of the chinch bug family, and 
stink bugs, assassin bugs, flat bugs, burrower bugs, leaf 
hoppers, tree hoppers, plant lice, and bugs of the genus 
Scolops. The miscellaneous animal matter taken in- 
cludes flies, spiders and snails. 
Fruit. 
The vegetable food of this quail amounts to 97.85 per 
cent, of its diet. The bird has an unsavory reputation 
among fruit growers, especially the owners of vineyards. 
Relative to this subject. Miss Florence A. Merriain, 
writing from San Diego county. Cal., says: 
“In fact, the quail were so abundant as to be a pest. 
For several years great flocks of them came down the 
canons to. Major Merriam’s vineyard, where they 
destroyed annually from twenty to thirty tons of fruit. 
In one season— July to October, 1881 — one hundred and 
thirty dozen (1,560) were trapped on his ranch. The 
result of this wholesale destruction was manifest when 
I returned to the valley in 1894. The birds were then 
rarely seen on the roads and seldom flushed in riding 
about the valley.” 
When this species becomes superabundant and plays 
havoc with crops it is well to remember that it can be 
so easily checked. W. H. Osgood, of the Biological 
Survey, has furnished the writer data on the frugivor- ’ 
pus habits of the quail in central California. In one 
vineyard he saw a flock of about a thousand eating ' 
zinfandel grapes. The birds do much damage in Sep- ; 
tember, when the young are molting and they have 
collected in packs, as before described. 
Walter E. Bryant, writing of the damage to fruit, j 
offers testimony on the other side: ' 
“In some parts of California there is a strong preju- 
dice against the quail, owing to alleged damage to the 
grape. The evidence which I have thus far gathered 
shows that the quail do pick at the bunches of grapes, 
and not alone those bunches which are near or on the 
ground; but the damage which they cause seems over- 
estimated. Too often mutilated bunches are supposed 
to be due to the presence of quail in the vineyard; but ’ 
there are other birds and mammals, also which vary | 
their diet with grapes. I have examined a number of i 
quail’s crops and gizzards without finding the presence \ 
of grapes, although the birds had been shot near and | 
in vineyards. A quail’s crop sent to me from Los | 
Gatos, by Mr. A. H. Hawley, contained twenty-five ;! 
small grapes; others had a few grapes, seeds and poison- j 
oak berries.” 
In the 601 stomachs of the valley quail examined by | 
the Biological Survey grapes formed only o.oi per cent, j 
of the annual food. This small quantity is due, no ii 
doubt, to the fact that many of the birds were- shot in | 
regions remote from vineyards and many of them dur- i 
ing the time when grapes were not in fruit. The total 1 
proportion of all kinds of fruit was only 7.60 per cent., 
an amount so insignificant as to preclude the- idpa of | 
serious damage. Where the birds are over-abundant 1 
