140 
THE CONDOR 
Vol XIV 
nnini numbers, the exact amount being cie])enclent largely on the death rate and 
consequently on the locality. The great danger of exterminating the quail by 
hunting lies in the excessive amount of shooting which is seen in certain parts 
of the state brought about by the use of improved firearms and the augmented 
number of sportsmen. 
.\s can be seen by studying the gra])h, the open season should come during 
the winter months, — after the young have become full grown, and at the time 
when the natural mortality is large. A lengthening of the season to include too 
many of the late winter months would result in the destruction of those birds 
most necessary for the retention of normal numbers. I'all shooting would allow 
the killing of half-grown birds. Winter shooting, if kept leifliiii bounds, will 
])ermit the c|uail not only to hold their own but to increase. The months of 
.Xovember and December seem best fitted for the open season. A shortening 
of the season to these two months would doubtless improve conditions in many 
localities. 
The present bag limit may be too large in some parts of the state, especially 
in those ])arts where the (|uail are known to be on the decrease. The closing 
of the sea.son for a few years, or the creation of a weekly bag limit, might be 
sufficient to im])rove tbe status of the quail in these particular localities. Short- 
ening the season too much only concentrates the shooting and seldom improves 
conditions. The creation of a weekly bag limit, or the closing of the season for a 
brief period of years would effectively cut down the toll taken by the hunter. 
Where there is a marked de])letion in numbers the closing of the open season 
seems the most sensible way of meeting the situation. 
The suggestion that new blood is needed is hardly borne out by the facts 
already brought out. Our native stock is apparentlv in good health and onlv 
de])leted in numbers. 
A study of local conditions affording a knowledge of the death rate seems 
the most scientific way of dealing with the problem, and this method wall donbt- 
less be tbe method used in the future. Wdien the amount of shooting is regu- 
lated by the natural death rate there will be no diminution in numbers of the 
California valley quail on account of the hunter. It should be remembered 
that the hunter is probably otie of the most important of many factors governing 
numbers, and that the only way to (juickly increase numbers is to cut down the 
toll claimed by the hunter. 
SITMM.XRV 
California valley quail have been greatly reduced in numbers in some parts 
of the state. In other parts these birds have increasd in numbers during the 
last ten years, whereas in still other ]4arts their numbers have neither decreased 
(u- increased. 
Many factors govern the increase or decrease of birds, chief of which are: 
h'ood sup])ly, cover, predatory mammals and birds, disease, and the hunter. 
hood supply is ])robably. in the last analysis, the most important of the 
factors goveiming numhers under natural conditions, for it is a well-recognized 
fact that both animals and jdants will increase up to the limit of their food 
su])ply. 
Fh'edatory mammals and birds act as a check' on the numbers of (juail and 
