clxxxiii 
PeRDICID^. BIRDS. CHABADUnDiE. 
Common Quail ; the tliird is its love-song, than 
whicli, Dr. Goues adds, nothing more unmusical can 
well be imagined. It is uttered by the male, and 
only when the female is incubating. 'I’his song is 
poured forth both at sunrise and at sunset, from 
, some topmost twig near the spot where his mate is 
sitting; and with outstretched neck, drooping wings 
and plume negligently dangling, he gives utterance 
to his odd, guttural, energetic notes.” — North Amer- 
ican Birds. I'he eggs are a cream-white color, 
beautifully marked with ragged spots of deep 
chestnut. 
SCALED, OR BLUE PARTRIDGE [Oallipepla squa- 
mata). — 'I'his, the only species of the genus within 
the United States, is found in the 'J'able-lands of 
Mexico and the Valley of the Rio Grande. They 
are found often on the open plains, associated occa- 
sionally with the 'I’exas Quail, and sometimes inhabit 
the Prairie-dog villages. It is a rare bird in collec- 
tions, and an exceedingly shy one in its native local- 
ities. It has the reputation of being the swiftest of 
foot of any other Quail, trusting always to its fleet- 
ness on foot rather than flight by the wing. A Mex- 
ican naturalist attempted to domesticate some of this 
species, but failed completely. It seemed impossible 
to gain them over from their intractable, wild state. 
I’liey are said to have a peculiar note, resembling 
that of a squirrel. 'I’he head is decorated with a 
full, broad, flattened crest of soft, elongated feathers. 
'I’lie size is the same as that of the other forms. 
MASSENA PARTRIDGE {Gyrtonix massena). — The 
habitat of this Partridge is on the Rio Grande, in 
Arizona and Northern Mexico. It is sometimes 
seen associated with the 'I'exas Quail. 'I'he Mexican 
naturalist, Don Pablo de la Llave, furnishes the fol- 
lowing account of the habits of this bird ; “ It is 
only a few days since the third species has been 
brought to me. It is rather smaller than the former 
(C. squamata), and its deportment is entirely differ- 
ent. It carries its head habitually resting on its 
shoulders, the neck being e.xcessively small and de- 
flexed ; and in everything it shows an amiability 
and, so to speak, kindness of character [una hondad 
de caracter^ which is not found in any other species 
of this genus ; and it is naturally so tame and domes- 
tic as to permit itself to be caught by the hand. 
These birds are always united, forming a covey, and 
whenever one is separated, the others follow it. 
'I’hey do not, like others, wish to sleep on elevated 
places, but sit on the ground, drawing very near 
together. Their notes, which are not varied, are 
very low and soft, and I have never heard loud cries 
from the male. When they are frightened they show 
much activity and swiftness ; at other times their 
gait and movement are habitually slow and deliber- 
ate, carrying the crest puffed up \espayadai\." 
WADING BIRDS. 
fl’nE Limieolm, or Shore-birds, are represented by all 
kinds of Plover, Snipe, Woodcock, the Phalaropes, 
Avocets, Stilts, Turnstones and Oyster-catchers. 
Family— CHARADRIIDJE. 
Plover. 
'I'here are other birds, frequenting the uplands as 
well as lowlands, which the sportsman or others un- 
skilled call Plovers. The Upland Plover, so-called, 
is one. 'J’he true Plover has only three toes, and is 
particularly noticeable as having a short and stout 
bill. One exception to this rule only is seen among 
American birds — the Bull-head or Black-bellied 
Plover {Squatarola hehetica), in which there is a 
rudimentary hind-toe. Another bird — the Aphriza 
virgata of the Pacific Coast — has a well-developed 
hind-toe ; but it is thought that its place is with the 
Scolopacidm possibly. 'I’he only three-toed Ameri- 
can bird of the Scolopacidm now recognized is the 
Stilt [Himantopus nigricallis). 
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER [Squatarola helvetica) 
— Plate 23, fig. 89. — This bird is known in some parts 
of the country as the Whistling Field Plover. It is 
particularly attached to ploughed fields, where it 
forms its nest of a few coarse materials, slightly put 
together. The female has frequently two broods in 
a season, laying four large eggs of a light olive, 
dashed with black. It is an extremely shy and 
watchful bird, though clamorous during breeding- 
time. About September it resorts to the sea-shore, 
joining the multitudes of shore-birds which are pass- 
ing in migration. At this season it is said to be 
abundant on Long Island, feeding on the great plains. 
It has a loud, whistling note, and from certain re- 
semblances the gunners call them Black-bellied 
Killdeer. This bird resembles somewhat the Golden 
Plover, but is larger, and the presence of the small 
hind-toe readily distinguishes it. 
AMERICAN GOLDEN 'B'LOVES, [Gharadrius fuhus ; 
rar. rirginicus) — Plate 23, fig. 88. — 'I’his bird is now 
considered distinct from the European (the C. apri- 
carius.) It is distinguished by the ashen-gray of the 
inner surface of the wings, the latter being white. 
The C. fulvus of Asia is nearer. 'I’he Golden Plover 
is met with on all parts of our coast, but is never 
plentiful, and is never seen in the interior. Dr. 
Coues met with it on the Pacific Coast in consider- 
able numbers, and says that it migrates in great 
numbers through Dakota. 'I’hey were seen in com- 
pany with the “'I’attlers and Esquimaux Curlews, 
and were quite tame,” running rapidly and lightly in 
search of food ; flew with a mellow, whistling note, 
and settled again with a momentary graceful poise 
of the upturned wing.” 
KILLDEER PLOVER [NEgialitis wciferus). — 'I’his 
is a very familiar bird in all parts of the United 
States. Its peculiar note, killdeer! killdeer! is 
uttered as it plunges and courses in the air, and at 
times of breeding, when running and counterfeiting 
