Jnly,r)12 PRRSKXT AXD FUTURE STATUS OF CAMFORXIA VALUEV OUAIL 1.S7 
caused by threadworms (Nematodes), called strongylosis, has also been in- 
strumental in destroying large numbers of these birds. Coccidiosis is a serious 
disease, the birds attacked by it usually dying from the effects. Whether Cali- 
fornia valley quail under natural conditions have ever been known to contract 
the disease 1 have not been able to ascertain. Such a protozoan disease as this, 
if it should attack our quail, would doubtless prove a serious menace; but fortu- 
nately there seems to be no immediate danger. .\t the present time, therefore, 
disease cannot be considered an important factor. 
Weather conditions perhaps have more effect on birds which nest on the 
ground and on birds with the habits of the quail than on other birds. T. S. 
\'an Dyke says on this i)oint ; “Extreme drouth is the only natural thing that 
reduces them. They increase enough to supply the hawks, foxes, wild cats, and 
owls, and can stand even a reasonable amount of shooting. But when the 
winter rains fail to make seed enough for its ravenous appetite, this quail 
knows well before too late. It then declines to mate and remains all .summer 
in the big armies of the preceding year." That quail are able to foretell weather 
conditions and shortage of food is doubtful : but the fact that quail .sometimes 
remain in flocks during the breeding season has been noted by other observers. 
Even here we see that the weather conditions are only concerned because they 
effect food supply. 
Inbreeding is sometimes i)ut forth as a rea.son for decrease, but it can hardly 
be substantiated by fact. Chickens are often known to inbreed for long ];>€- 
riods of time without any apparent diminution in vitality or productiveness. 
Besides, the quail wander over large enough areas so that there is little danger 
of effective inbreeding. Then, too, there is no good rea.son why there should 
be very much more inbreeding now than there was twenty years ago when every 
one admitted that (|uail were in a thriving condition. The fact that (|uail, even 
in places where there were small numbers, have greatly increased under suffi- 
cient protection, seems in a measure to disprove this theory. Quail being n'?n- 
migratory, isolation caused by the cultivation of large tracts of land would 
bring about favorable conditions for inbreeding. The extent to which such i.so- 
lation could be brought about by intensive cultivation is ])roblematical. The 
question awaits future development, and so further consideration at this time is 
not ])ertinent. 
Last, but not least, comes hunting as a factor in the increase or decrease 
of birds. In many places this has been the most important factor in causing 
a decrease in numbers. With the increased traveling facilities, and the in- 
creasecl efficiency of firearms, this aspect of the question is yearly becoming 
more and more important. Twenty years ago hunting involved not only con- 
siderable time but considerable inconvenience : today, with the automobile and 
the increased transportation facilities, a hunt involves but little time and almost 
no inconvenience. The comparative destruction possible with a muzzle-loader 
or even with a single-barreled breech-loading shotgun, and an automatic, brings 
forcibly to mind one of the causes for the decrease in game birds during the 
la.st few years. Shooting from automobiles, a practice of the present day, is 
an easy way of filling the game bag but is a dangerous practice when viewed 
from the standpoint of conservation. .Mo.st game birds, on account of their pro- 
lificness, can withstand a certain amount of shooting: but the wholesale slaugh- 
ter, now made possible by improved methods, undoubtedly over.steps the danger 
point. 
