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Volume XI 
Marcb-.A,pril 1909 
Number 2 
DISTRIBUTION AND MOTT OF THE MEARNS QUAIL 
By II. S. SWARTH * 
WITH FRONTISPIECE, MAP AND THREE PHOTOS 
O NE of the most interesting, as well as least known of the North American 
Gallinae is the Mearns Quail ( Cyrtonyx montezuma mearnsi) , known 
thruout its range in the United States as the “Fool Quail.’’ The vernacu- 
lar name is derived chiefly from the custom the bird has of lying very closely, and 
taking flight only when nearly trodden upon, habits greatly in contrast to those of 
the Scaled and Gambel quails of the same general region, which trust less to con- 
cealment than to the speed of their legs. In his own way, however, the Mearns 
Quail is quite well able to care for himself, sufficiently so that the opprobrious name 
would hardly seem to be deserved. It has been argued that the habit of lying 
close, an exceedingly desirable one from the standpoint of the sportsman, common 
to the Bob-white and other allied game birds, is largely a matter of education; that 
is, that originally these species had similar habits to most of the quail now inhab- 
iting the wilder southwestern country. I believe it is true of the California Quail, 
and possibly of other species, that in places where they are much hunted they lie 
more closely and run less than in wilder regions where they are seldom disturbed. 
However the Mearns Quail seems to have found the habit of hiding best adapted 
to his needs in the first place, tho, in Arizona at least, his surroundings are in 
every respect very similar to those of the Mountain Quail in California, which is so 
preeminently a running bird that it is very difficult to get a wing shot at it. 
Their call consists of a series of notes slowly descending the scale, and ending 
in a long, low trill, the whole being ventriloquial in effect and most difficult to 
locate. It is easily imitated, however, and the birds readily answer when one 
whistles; when the flock is scattered they will sometimes even return, calling at 
intervals as they approach. The only other note I have heard is a quavering whis- 
tle uttered as they take flight. 
*Contribution from the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. 
