164 
GALLIFORMES 
problem in such cases is one of conservation rather than of control as, 
should it be necessary, there are plenty of sportsmen ready to reduce their 
number without bounty, bonus, or other artificial incentive. If the 
shooters were to pursue the House Sparrow, Crow, or other vermin as 
assiduously as they do game birds, the problem of their control would soon 
be solved. Even so, there is one thing to be borne in mind — that we 
cannot have foreign species except at the expense of competing native 
ones. It is notable that wherever this or other introduced species have 
increased to any marked extent, the resident grouse and Prairie Chicken 
have decreased in a similar degree. Sportsmen and the game departments 
of the various provinces should face this fact squarely and decide whether 
they prefer foreign to native game; they cannot well have unlimited num- 
bers of both in the same area. 
289. Bob-white, quail. American quail, le bob-white. Colinus virgirdanus. 
L, 10. Plate XIX B. A very small partridge or quail-like bird. Above — coloured in 
warm shades of pinkish or vinaceous brown, with dark brown mottlings, and a few lines of 
ochre or cream. Below — mostly white, decidedly barred with sharp black vermiculations. 
Flanks streaked with a pinkish brown which is also suffused evenly over the breast. A 
black gorget across upper throat, extending to cheeks and face, invades the reddish brown 
crown. A sharply defined, white throat. White, superciliary line extends down neck 
and breaks into fine white spots along sides of lower neck. The female is similar, but with 
duller, more blended colours, no black on face and neck, and an ochre instead of white 
throat and superciliary line. 
Distinctions. The only pinkish coloured partridge or quail-like bird of its size likely 
to occur in the area covered by this work. 
Field Marks. Quail-like appearance, very small size, and ruddy coloration. Its clear, 
whistled call of “Bob-white” is unmistakable. 
Distribution. Eastern North America, from just north of the Canadian boundary 
along Lake Erie to Texas and Mexico. It has been introduced in southern Vancouver 
Island, Fraser Valley, and Ashcroft and Vernon districts, British Columbia. For a time 
it throve in the last two localities. Later it was almost killed off by severe winters, but a 
few may still be found in the districts mentioned. It is not as hardy as the California 
Quail. A further attempt at introduction was made near Victoria in 1922, but with what 
success is not yet known. 
SUBSPECIES. There are several subspecies of the Bob-white recognized, but as 
the source of the introduced birds is unknown ami no originally native specimens are 
available for examination it is impossible to say to what race they belong. 
Introduced: 
294, California Quail. la perdrix de la californie. Lophortyx californica. 
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. 
Forehead, 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, Mack- 
feathers an inch or more in height, springing from the 
crown with the tips pointed forward (Figure 234). 
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 
