THE GAMBEL’S PARTRIDGE IN MASSA- 
CHUSETTS. 
In the Oct. 20th issue of Shooting and Fishing 
were two articles regarding the Gambel’s partridge, the 
introduction and acclimatization of which is now being 
tried in Massachusetts. Our Committee was pleased 
to see them, and hopes there may be other articles, 
notes or comments upon the different varieties of birds 
which have been introduced, or which might, in the 
judgment of the contributors to Shooting and Fish- 
ing, be valuable acquisitions to the State as game. 
Adverse criticism is welcomed as well as that favor- 
able to the work, for though this Committee has not 
been in the habit of working in the dark, it cannot 
know too much on the subject, and criticism, whether 
of one kind or another, may be, possibly, of much 
value. 
In reference to the Gambel’s partridge, our reports 
at first were seemingly very contradictory — a majority 
showing that it was an exceedingly unsatisfactory game 
bird. So much at variance were the statements that 
further light was sought, with the result that the Cam- 
bers partridge in its native home runs and lies badly 
to a dog where cover is scant, and in good cover af- 
fords good sport — as does the bob-white under like 
conditions. 
Now, this new bird is not claimed to be better game 
than the bob-white and the ruffed grouse, both of 
which are hard, if not impossible, to better; but it 
will, we hope, fill a vacant space. The northern and 
western portion of Massachusetts is admirably adapted 
for native quail, with good cover; but the birds do not 
increase materially — usually fighting a losing battle 
on account, we believe, of- the severity of the winters 
and depth of snow. The Gambel’s partridge will, we 
hope, do well in this portion of the State, having 
shown itself thus far an exceedingly hardy and strong 
bird, it habit of roosting in trees and bushes saving it 
from the fate which so often a heavy snowfall brings 
to our native bird. 
We have heard thus far of but four Gambel’s par- 
tridge having been shot in the State, although many 
have been seen. Of the four cases reported, each one 
was shot before a dog on a point, the shooters all stat- 
ing that when they shot, and while their dogs were 
working, they believed the birds to be our native quail. 
In two other cases the experience was the same — that* 
the birds lay to dog like a native bird, but seemed 
tamer, and when flushed, flew much faster and were, 
apparently, a harder bird to hit. One observer states 
that he saw one of these birds in a bevy of our native 
quail, and to-day, from an entirely different locality, a 
letter was received stating that, to the best of his be- 
lief, the writer had seen two in the same sort of com- 
pany. 
During the present shooting season some of the 
readers of Shooting and Fishing will doubtless see 
this bird, or some of the other varieties loosed by 
our Committee ; if so, will they give us their experi- 
ence ? 
Committee on Acclimatization of the Massachusetts 
Fish and Game Protective Association. 
Henry J. Thayer, Secretary. 
Boston, Mass., Oct. 24. 
. 
Albinistic Plumages, R. Deane. 
29 . Lophortyx gambeli. Gambel’s Partridge. — Partial albino 
specimens not uncommon ( 'Bendire ). 
Bull- N. O.O. 5, Jan., 1880, p. 29 
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915. The Arizona Quail. By Adios. Ibid., p. 484. An oiler to sene 
living Arizona Quail to parties in the East desiring to introduce them 
there. For. & Stream. "KKli. 
1123. Arizona Q nail Notes. By Herbert Brown. Ibid., Dec. 31. p. 
445. — Relates chiefly to Colinus ridgwayi, and is an important contribu- 
tion to the history of this species. uXXV 
1126. Arizona Quail. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid:, Jan. 14, p. 4 « 4 - 
An important paper, in reply to that of Mr. Brown. (See above, No. 
1 12 3 -) per, & Stream. S&J&V 
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