136 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XIV 
In some parts of the state the pasturing of sheep is having a direct influ- 
ence on the quail. Belding, in his "Birds of the Pacific District,” written in 
1890, speaks of the valley quail as follows: "Rather rare at Red Bluff where 
much of the country is used for pasturing sheep. Formerly very aboundant in 
the Marysville Buttes but now rare for the same reason. Not only do sheep 
destroy nests by treading on them, but they prevent the growth of cover, and 
this timid bird deserts her nest where there is the least cause for so doing.” 
The pasturing of cattle is doubtless a menace to quail in many parts of the 
state also. 
A certain number of quail are claimed each year by predatory mammals 
and birds. The wildcat, coyote, fox, and skunk are probably the worst of- 
fenders among the mammals, and the Cooper, sharp-shinned, and duck hawks, 
the worst among the predatory birds. The blue jays, the roadrunner, and the 
gopher snake are reputed to destroy eggs and young. Under natural conditions 
these predatory mammals and birds were far more numerous than they are 
at present so that they cannot be considered a very serious factor in the de- 
crease. It seems reasonable to believe that the slaughter of these mammals and 
birds has kept iqi with the destruction of the quail so that there is certainly no 
larger a toll now than formerly. In fact, there is probably a less toll taken by pre- 
dacious mammals and birds at the present. 
Quail appear to be little subject to disease. As far as can be ascertained 
there is no reference in literature to an epidemic appearing among California 
valley quail. Certain parasites are not uncommon in these birds, however. 
i\Ir. Joseph Mailliard gives his experience with parasites in valley quail in the 
following words: "In Marin County and, if my memory is correct, in San 
Benito County also, these birds are frequently found with what appear to be 
small tapeworms, or with numbers of round, rather blunt worms about half 
an inch long closely resembling those sometimes found in domestic poultry. 
Besides I have often found a group of exceedingly small parasites of a bright 
Vermillion color, suggesting fungoid growth, around the vent, but have never 
examined these with a microscope.” Chas. S. Thompson has also called at- 
tention to the fact that he has found tapeworms in quail. He says : "At least 
one-third had tapeworms two and one-half to four inches long in the intestines.” 
The presence of such intestinal parasites is not as a rule very detrimental to the 
health of the animal, practically all mammals and birds and even man being- 
attacked to a greater or less degree. 
In 1906-7 large numbers of bobwhite quail kept in captivity died with 
what was called quail disease, a disease singularly like the grouse disease of 
England. At that time post-mortem examination showed the presence of 
quail disease in the common bobwhite, the California quail, the Gambel quail, 
the scaled quail, the mountain quail, and the sharp-tailed grouse. The promi- 
nent symptoms were first dullness, and then emaciation. Only birds kept in 
confinement were found infected. 
Bobwhite quail kept in captivity have been found infected with coccidiosis, 
a disease which sometimes attacks jioultry. This disease seems to be a common 
one among birds, for it has been found in grouse, pheasants, pigeons, and is 
quite a common disease among domestic fowls, especially turkeys here in Cali- 
fornia. The Committee on Grouse Disease in England, in an elaborate report 
this past year, shows that one of the diseases which has destroyed such large 
numbers of grouse in England and Scotland is coccidiosis. Another disease 
