162 
Distribution. Originally the Pacific coast from Washington south into California. 
Probably the first attempt at introduction into Canada was made on Vancouver island 
about 1865 with birds from San Juan island, where the 
species was indigenous, but it was not successful. 
About 1872 another attempt was made with birds from 
the same locality and the species is, in consequence, 
today fairly common locally in Victoria and Sooke 
regions, Vancouver island, and has been noted as far 
north on the island as Duncan. 
SUBSPECIES. Several subspecies of Mountain 
Quail are recognized. The subspecies native to the 
lower levels west of the Cascades where our stock 
originated in Washington is the type form Oreortyx picta 
picta, and our birds are probably the same, though in 
the various introductions that have been made in 
Washington, a strain of the plumed Quail Oreortyx rncta 
plumifera from the higher levels adjacent may have 
been intermixed. 
294. California Quail (Including Valley Quail). Lophortyx calif arnica. L, 10-50. 
Above— olive-grey blending into olive-brown on wings and flanks, greying on tail and 
neck; breast clear blue-grey. Abdomen — peculiarly 
scale-marked with sharply defined black borders on 
white, ochre, and light chestnut ground. Flanks 
sharply streaked with white. Jet black throat patch 
with white border and white superciliary line. Foie- 
head, light ochre. A cape of beautifully white- 
speckled, black-margined grey feathers falling from 
crown to shoulders. The most distinctive feature, 
however, is a plume of several scimitar-shaped, black 
feathers an inch or more in height, springing from the 
crown with the tips pointed forward (Figure 187). 
Female similar, but plumes much smaller and colours 
reduced and blended. 
Distinctions. With scimitar-shaped plumes, white- 
bordered black throat, and scaled abdomen unmistak- 
able for any other bird in Canada. 
Distribution. Originally, Pacific coast from Oregon 
to southern Lower California. Introduced into British 
Columbia. 
Probably introduced into the state of Washington 
near Seattle about 1874, and on Vancouver island 
shortly after. Here, they appear to follow the broom-plant which affords them shelter 
fi om vermin and weather as well as food. They suffer under occasional heavy snowfalls in 
winter, but soon recuperate. The centre of abundance is still southern Vancouver island, 
but they occur at least as far north as Comox. Attempts to introduce them in the Fraser 
valley have not been successful, but about 1900 they were introduced in the southern 
Okanagan valley where they have done remarkably well. 
SUBSPECIES. The typical form, the Valley Quail Lophortyx calif omica califomica, 
seems to be the race to which our birds should be referred. It iB unfortunate that importers 
are careless as to the origin of their introductions. Where restocking of covers has been 
numerous, the stock has in many cases become hopelessly mongrelized. Restocking should 
be in the hands of responsible authorities, careful records kept, and the purity of the 
strain maintained. 
Introduced: 
Ring-necked Pheasant (Including English and Mongolian Pheasants), china 
pheasant. Phasianus torquatus. L, 35. A large, game-cock-like bird. Male: strikingly 
and magnificently coloured, with narrow, gracefully pointed tail about 15 inches long. 
Back, beautifully variegated in complicated pattern with deep maroon, cream, ochre, 
black, and shades of emerald green, many of them metallic. The back is mostly green, 
the wing-coverts mostly maroon, and the cape mostly ochre. Breast, solid, rich burnt 
sienna, with violet reflections and scale marked with black feather edges, abdomen black 
and rich ochre on flanks spotted with purple black. Head and neck, except crown, brilliant, 
Figure 187 
California Quail; scale, 
