Mar., 1909 
DISTRIBUTION AND MOLT OP THE MEARNS QUAIL 
41 
merges into the true C. montezumce can not well be shown, and I have tried merely 
to indicate the distribution in the United States. 
The vertical range seems to be approximately from 4000 to 9000 feet, but 
whether it breeds thruout this range I can not say. I have seen quite young birds 
at something over 9000 feet. 
During a visit to the country of the Mearns Quail, finding the species abun- 
dant, and in the midst of the autumnal molt, I took advantage of the opportunity 
to secure a number of the birds, including a series that illustrates very well the 
manner in which the first winter plumage of the male is acquired. This was in 
FIG. 1 — SERIES OF MEARNS QUAI L ILLUSTRATING POST-JUVENAL MOLT OF THE MALE 
October and November, too late to secure any downy young, the youngest ones 
seen being in the “juvenal plumage” which is retained in its entirety for but a 
very short time. Figure 1, including eight immature males in various stages of 
change, and one adult male in freshly acquired autumnal plumage, shows how the 
change in the underparts is accomplished. Number 1 is in the juvenal plumage, 
purely. The back is streaked, much as in the old bird, but head and underparts 
lack entirely the bold striking markings of the adult male. The breast and lower 
parts are spotted, but it is interesting to note, that, whereas in the old male the 
