1443 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April. 
ARIZONA QUAIL, OR GAMBEL’S PARTRIDG E .—{Lophortyx Gambeli.) 
a white line, which is bordered above with black; 
the crown above this line is of a fine chestnut 
color; the general color of the upper parts of the 
bird, is a pure clear ash; the edging of the 
inner quills, white ; the breast like the back, 
the under parts whitish, with a large pure 
black spot in the middle of the belly; the 
sides rich purplish chestnut, with sharp white 
stripes. The crest is of a glossy jet-black, 
averaging an inch and a half in length, and 
sometimes reaching two inches, varying in the 
number of its feathers, but five or six is the 
average; these all arise from a single point, 
just behind the white line of the crown, the 
plume or web of the feather being folded back, 
so that the shaft of the feather forms the for¬ 
ward edge; each feather is folded upon the 
one behind it, and the whole crest curved grace¬ 
fully forward. The female has a shorter crest, 
rarely over an inch long, lacks the very distinct 
head markings of the male, and is without the 
black spot upon the belly. Its common note 
is a sort of bell-like “ chink,” though Dr. 
Elliott Coues, whose description we have con¬ 
densed, says it has at breeding-time a “ song,” 
which he compares to that of a consumptive 
crow, weary of life. This bird is found through¬ 
out Arizona and New Mexico, in great abun¬ 
dance, and is regarded by sportsmen as more 
difficult to shoot upon the wing than the com¬ 
mon quail, as when once flushed the flock 
scatters in all directions. Its flesh is of the most 
delicious quality. The writer has seen this bird 
in that most dreary and desolate country, now 
by the Gadsden purchase a part of the territory 
of Arizona, abundant and plump in places so 
arid, that scarcely any other animals than 
“horned frogs” were to be seen, and where 
vegetation was so scanty, that it could not be 
very choice in its food; they are said, however, 
to be still more abundant in the thickets of 
creek bottoms, in the northern part of the ter¬ 
ritory. This quail, while not a brilliant, is an 
exceedingly beautiful bird, and of a remarka¬ 
bly graceful carriage; the plume is sometimes 
bent forward over the eyes and bill, or allowed 
to fall back upon the neck; but when the bird 
is in motion, marching proudly at the head of 
its flock, it is carried erect, as if the wearer 
were conscious of the air of dignity it imparted. 
Dr. Coues, who has investigated the habits of 
this bird more closely than any other naturalist 
has done, says that its food is very variable,, 
comprising the seeds of grasses and small 
plants, berries, the buds of willows, and various 
insects. He states that the largest number he 
ever saw in a flock, was 15 or 20. The writer’s 
servant, while crossing that desert region, was 
a green young Irishman, who carried as his 
weapon a common army musket. Carrol put 
into this an unmeasured quantity of both 
powder and shot; when this arm was fired, 
Carroll knew it, if there was no other result; 
on those desert plains a flock of these quails, 
when alarmed, would run to the shelter of 
some low bush, and there squat; happening to 
be near when Carroll had for once made a 
successful shot, we helped pick up the results 
of the slaughter, and there were 18 birds. 
Whether Carroll had killed all of a large flock,, 
or got two flocks in range, we do not know, but 
remember that having had no “ fresh mess ” 
for a long time, none of the party felt like 
chiding the caterer for “ pot-shooting,” or get¬ 
ting his game in an unsportsman like manner. 
