The CALIFORNIAN PARTRIDGE (_Lophortyx Californianus_) has the feathers on
the top of the forehead of a straw-yellow, with dark shafts, these being
surrounded by a dark line that passes over the eyes. The crown of the
head shows two shades of brown; the long feathers that cover the nape are
blueish grey, with black shafts and edges, and two white spots at their
tips. The back is olive-brown, the throat black, encircled by a white
band, the upper breast is blueish grey, its lower portion yellow, each
feather being lighter at the tip, and bordered with black; the feathers
on the belly are brownish red, edged with a darker shade, those on the
sides brown, with white shafts, and those on the lower tail-covers light
yellow, with dark shafts. The quills are brownish grey, the secondaries
bordered with a yellowish tint; the tail is pure grey. The eye is dark
brown, the beak black, and foot deep lead-colour. The female is of a dull
whity-brown on the forehead, and brownish grey on the crown; the throat
is yellowish, with dark markings, the breast dull grey; the rest of the
plumage resembles that of the male, but is duller and fainter.
The Californian Partridge was first observed during the visit of the
unfortunate ship _La Perouse_ to California, since which time it has been
found to inhabit in abundance all suitable localities in that country; the
accounts of its life and habits are, however, as yet very scanty.
"These beautiful birds," says Gambel, "so extraordinarily plentiful
throughout California, assemble in the winter in numerous swarms of more
than a thousand individuals, if the woods are able to provide for that
number, and are equally plentiful on bushy plains and the declivities of
hills. They exhibit great watchfulness and activity, and when pursued run
nimbly away into concealment; if suddenly started they take refuge in
trees, crouching close to the horizontal branches like squirrels--in which
position the great resemblance of their colouring to that of the bark of
the tree, makes it very difficult to detect them." The nest is usually
placed on the ground at the foot of a tree or beneath a bush. The eggs are
generally numerous and placed in a shallow hollow, scooped at the foot of
an oak, and spread over with a few leaves and a little dried grass. Gambel
found twenty-four eggs in one nest, but thought that possibly they were
the produce of two hens--fifteen being the usual number of the brood.
Freyborg, who also observed this bird in its native country, says that it
is stationary, or at least wanders only to a short distance, and feeds on
grass, seeds, bulbous roots, garlic, plants of various kinds, berries, and
insects, preferring thick bushes to any other localities. It seldom moves
more than forty or fifty paces, and scarcely ever strays from the shade
of the woods to open spots; it holds out for some time before the hounds,
and flies to the nearest tree. In the winter it digs long burrows under
the snow. In California these birds are shot from the trees with a small
rifle, and they are also chased by the help of dogs--their flesh being
in great request, and considered to resemble that of the Hazel Grouse
(_Bonasia sylvestris_).
Captain Beechey brought home several of these birds, but the females all
died, and of the males which were presented to the Zoological Society,
scarcely one survived.
Since this time several others have been imported to different parts of
Europe, and two pairs brought by Deschamps laid and hatched a numerous
brood--other experimenters have been equally successful.