53 
Dr. E. Coues— Field Notes on Lophortyx gambeli. 
only three, though there may be more. The first is the common 
cry, uttered on all occasions of alarm, or to call or keep a bevy 
together. It is a single, mellow, clear “ chink,” with somewhat 
of a metallic resonance, quickly repeated an indefinite number of 
times. I may remark, by the way, that it is so exactly similar 
to the common note of Guiraca melanocephala , that I have been 
more than once deceived. The next kind is a clear, loud, ener¬ 
getic whistle, resembling, to my ear, the syllables “ killink, kil- 
link.” This is chiefly heard during the pairing-season, when 
the male in some secluded spot is busy paying his addresses to 
and trying to win the favour of his chosen partner. It is 
analogous to the “ bob-white ” that has earned for Ortyx vir- 
ginianus its popular appellation. The last note is the “ song ” 
proper of the species, though, if song it be called, it is so en¬ 
tirely upon the principle of lucus a non lucendo; for anything 
more unmusical can hardly be imagined. It is uttered, I be¬ 
lieve, only by the male, and only, I am also of opinion, when 
the female is incubating, or attending to a very young brood. 
At sunrise and sunset the song is cheerfully poured forth. 
Mounted on the topmost twig of a scrub-oak or willow-bush, 
near the spot where his mate is sitting on their joint treasures, 
with outstretched neck, drooped wings, and plume dangling 
negligently over one eye, he makes the place resound with his 
odd, guttural, energetic notes. To me they sound something 
like the cawing of a cachectic Crow weary of life, or perhaps in 
love, a little mixed in tone with the cooing of a Dove. But 
what matters it how awkwardly we may interpret his Anacreon¬ 
tics, she, for whom they are intended, understands them well; 
and sweeter than all other sounds must they fall upon her ear, 
assuring her of undiminished love and unwavering devotion. 
The elegant crest which forms so marked a feature of this 
species becomes apparent at an exceedingly early age; in fact 
in chicks only a few days old it is readily discernible. It then 
consists of a small, short tuft of three or four feathers, rather 
brown than black, not growing larger towards their tips, and 
directed straight backwards. It is some time before the feathers 
become club-shaped and directed forwards; indeed the change 
is not complete until full maturity is attained. In the female, 
