OCR Text |
Show 268 145. Oreortyx picia, Douglas.- Mountain Quail. Ortyx pitta, DoujrL, Trans. Linn. So., xvl, L839,143. OallipepU picta, Newb., P. R. R. Rep., vi, 1857,93.- Heerra , ibid, x, 1859, Birds, 61. Oreortyx pictus, Bd., B. N. A., 1858,642.- Xantns, Proc. Pbila. Aoad. Nat. Sci., 1859,199.- Coop. & SockL, P. RRRep., vol. xii. pt. ii, 1860,335.- Coop., B. Cal., i, 1870,546.- Cones, Key N. A. B., 1873,837.- B., B., & R.. N. A- B., iii, 1874,475, pL 63,15.- Nelson, Proc Boat. Soc. Nat Hist., TOL xvii, 364 ( California). This, the moat beautiful of all our game- birds, is limited in its distribution to California and Oregon, and, as its name well implies, is strictly a bird of the mountains. We found it in the mountains near Fort Tejon, and in the Sierras in a sufficient number of localities as to justify the belief that its distribution in Southern California is at least quite general, and dependent only upon the mountainous nature of the country. In summer, it is not found lower than 4,000 feet, and is not so common at this - elevation as somewhat higher. Above 9,000 feet, it was not seen, and this is presumably about its limit. Its habitat is thus complementary to that of the Valley Quail, the higher and lower limits of either species occasionally overlapping each other. It seems nowhere to be an abundant species. As compared with the preceding, the bevies are very small, and I do not remember to have ever seen more than fifteen together, oftener less. It is a wild, timid bird, haunting the thick chaparral- thickets, and rarely coming into the opening. When a band is surprised, they arc not easily forced on the wins, but will endeavor to find safety by running and taking refuge in the thickness and impenetrability of their favorite thickets. If forced, however, they rise vigorously and fly swiftly and well, and sometimes to a considerable distance, and then make good their escape by running. During the heat of midday, they will be found reposing under the thick shade of the chaparral, and there they remain till the cooler hours invite them to continue their quest for food. When the covey has been scattered, the males have a loud call, which consists of a series of notes clearly given, the whole recalling to mind the notes of the Golden Flicker. Besides this, both sexes have the more commonly heard piping- notes, which they emit just as they take to wing, and when they are agitated, or moved by fear. No. $ 83 • 417 724 " 733 780 779 640 700 701 709 Sox. cfad. $ ad. 9 ad. 9 ad. cfad. cf ad. cfad. Locality. Mountains near Fort Tejon, Cal do do do do do Walker's Basin, Cal do do do Date. Ang. 3 Ang. 19 Aug. 1 Aug. 1 Ang. 1 Ang. 1 Nov. 5 Nov. 5 Nov. 5 Nov. 5 Collector. H. W. Henahaw .... do .... do . . . . do . . . . do .... do .... do .... do .... do Wing. 5.50 5.35 5.30 5.40 5.35 5.43 5.43 Tail. 3.70 3.65 3.43 3.37 3.45 3.77 353 Bill. 0.60 0.57 0.60 0.62 0.57 0.58 0.58 Taraos. 1.41 1.47 1.40 1.37 1.45 1.48 1.47 CHARADRIID^ E.- PLOVERS. 146. jEgialiiis vocifera, ( Linn.).-- Killdeer Plover. By the side of every lake and along all the streams, as well as on the shores of California, this Plover is found in great abundance. It is only partially migratory, numbers remaining in Southern California till the ensuing spring sends them farther north. The Mountain Plover { A. montana) occurs and is numerous in certain localities in ^ Southern California, as on the plains about Los Angeles. No. * m Sex. $ Jnn. Locality. Walker's Baaln, Cal Date. Nov. 9 Collector. H. W. Henahaw. CharadonU eantiantu, Lath., Birds, vol. viii, 338 - Heerm., P. R. R. Rep., x. 1850, p t vi, 64. JEgiliti* ( Ltucopolius) nivoaa, Cass., Bd., B. N. A., 1858,696.- Cones, 1866,374 ( San Pedro, Cal.). MgWtus cantianut, Cones, Key, 1873,345. 147. JEgialitia cantianus, Lath., var. nivosa, ( Cass.).- Snowy Plover. This species is an abundant one on the coast of California, though by no means a • strictly coastwise bird. I did not see it in the interior, though Mr. Ridgway found the species at Great Salt Lake, where it was breeding. At Santa Barbara, it was numerous, frequenting here only the sandy shores, not following the creeks inland, and never |