s, being 11 inches in length. It is
of a general grayish color, with chestnut throat patch, and chestnut
flanks, barred with white. Two long plumes extend downward from the back
of the head. This species nests abundantly in the mountainous portions
of northern California and throughout Oregon, and is gradually
increasing in numbers in Washington. As a rule they nest only on the
higher mountain ranges, placing their nest of leaves under the
protection of an overhanging bush or tuft of grass. Their eggs number
from six to fifteen, and are of a pale reddish buff color. Size 1.35 x
1.05.

292a. PLUMED QUAIL. _Oreortyx picta plumifera._

Range.--Mountain ranges of California and Lower California, chiefly in
the southern parts of the former. This species is like the latter except
that it is grayer on the back of the head and neck. Its nesting habits
and eggs are like the preceding.

292b. SAN PEDRO QUAIL. _Oreortyx picta confinis._

Range.--San Pedro Mountains, Lower California.

This species, which is grayer above than the preceding two, breeds only
in the highest peaks of its range. Otherwise its nesting habits and eggs
are the same as the other Plumed Partridges.

293. SCALED QUAIL. _Callipepla squamata squamata._

Range.--Mexico and southwestern border of the United States.

This blue gray species is 10 inches in length; the feathers on the neck
and underparts have narrow dark borders, thus giving the plumage a scaly
appearance, from which the birds take their name. They have a small tuft
of whitish or buffy feathers on the top of the head. It is especially
abundant in the dry arid portions of its range, being found often many
miles away from water. Their eggs are laid in a shallow hollow under
some small bush or cactus, and number from eight to sixteen; they are
creamy white, finely specked with buff or pale brownish. Size 1.25 x
.95.

[Illustration 178: Reddish buff.]
[Illustration: Mountain Partridge. Scaled Partridge.]
[Illustration: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 177

293a. CHESTNUT-BELLIED SCALED QUAIL. _Callipepla squamata
castanogastris._

Range.--Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and southward into Mexico.

This sub-species is like the last with the addition of a chestnut patch
on the belly. Their breeding habits do not vary in any particular way
from those of the Scaled Partridge.

294. CALIFORNIA QUAIL. _Lophortyx californica californica._

Range.--Coast regi