GAMBEL'S PARTRIDGE (_Lophortyx Gambelii_) resembles the species last
described in its general appearance, but has the black patch on the face
larger, and only a very small portion of the brow is white. The back of
the head is bright reddish brown, streaked with light yellow. All its hues
are brighter and more glossy than those of the Californian Partridge.
[Illustration: THE CALIFORNIAN PARTRIDGE (_Lophortyx Californianus_).]
"It was late in June," says Coues, "when I arrived in Arizona, where I
heard that this Partridge was especially plentiful. In my first day's
sporting I stumbled, so to say, over a covey of young poults that were
just escaped from the egg, but the nimble little creatures ran and
concealed themselves with such wonderful celerity, that I could not
catch a single one. I thought that I had mistaken for them the _Oreortyx
pictus_, and wondered to find young ones of these so late in the year.
But it was not yet late for Gambel's Partridge, as I found several broods
in August only a few days old. In the following year I observed that the
old birds had paired by the end of April, and at the beginning of June
I saw the first young ones. I would also notice that breeding goes on
rapidly in the months of May, June, July, and August, and that probably
two or possibly three broods are hatched in one year. The greatest number
of poults in one brood are, as far as I could learn, between fifteen
and twenty-six, the smallest from six to eight. On the first of October
I found some half-grown young, the greater number were already nearly
or quite as large as their parents, and so fledged that they might well
attract the attention of a sportsman. As long as the young brood require
their parents' care they keep together in a small collected flock, and if
this is threatened each little chick runs away so quickly and squats in
some convenient place that it is very difficult to induce them to rise. If
this can be done, the covey fly all close together, but usually quickly
alight on low branches of trees or bushes, but often also on the ground,
and here they generally sit, sometimes stiffly in a heap, and while
they think they are well concealed, allow themselves to be approached
within a few paces. Later in the year, when they have reached their full
growth, they more seldom take to the trees, become more cautious, and are
approached with greater difficulty. The first intimation that a covey is
near, is given in a single note, repeated two or three times, then follows
a rustling of dry leaves, and the whole troop hasten, as quickly as they
may, yet one step farther and then all rise with a whirring noise, and
disperse themselves in different directions."
[Illustration: THE COMMON QUAIL (_Coturnix communis_). ONE-HALF NATURAL
SIZE.]
With the exception of close fir-woods, without undergrowth, these birds
people every locality, but seem to prefer thick bushes, and especially
osier holts, on the borders of streams. Dr. Gambel tells us that he saw
them in flocks of fifteen or twenty in company with another species in a
barren tract, where several podded kinds of _Prosopis_, with low-spreading
branches, afforded them excellent covert, and the seeds of bushy _Maluas_,
_Chænopodia_, and _Artemisia_ probably served them for food. In this
dreary region, where one would suppose it impossible for any creature to
subsist, they were running about in small parties, occasionally uttering a
low guttural call of recognition; this call is often composed of several
notes, and very different from that of the common species. When in flight
they emit a sharp whistle, and conspicuously display their long crest.
* * * * *
The QUAILS (_Coturnices_) are recognisable by their comparatively small
size, powerful, compact bodies, proportionately long, pointed wings, and
very short, rounded tail, formed of twelve soft feathers, and almost
concealed by the long feathers on the rump. The beak is small, and high
at its base, the foot short, or of moderate size, without a spur, and the
plumage, which completely covers the head, alike in both sexes. These
birds are met with over a larger portion of the globe than any other
members of the entire order, as they not only inhabit the whole of the
Eastern Hemisphere, but are particularly numerous in Australia and the
Malay Islands. Unlike other Rasores, the Quails are by no means social,
but live strictly in pairs and rarely congregate into flocks, or associate
freely with others of their kind, except during the migratory season, at
which time they undertake journeys of considerable extent, their long
wings enabling them to fly with far less effort or fatigue than do the
_Perdices_. The incubation of this group is also somewhat peculiar, for
wherever the means of subsistence are to be found, there they will breed
as readily as in their native lands. As regards their general development,
the Quails will bear comparison with any of their relations, and far
exceed most of them in the rapidity and ease of their movements. In most
respects the food of this group is the same as that consumed by other
Rasores, although, perhaps, they may be said to eat a less proportion of
vegetable matter.