Birds, Vol. III, No 3, March 1898

<h2><SPAN name="THE_SCALED_PARTRIDGE" id="THE_SCALED_PARTRIDGE"></SPAN> THE SCALED PARTRIDGE.</h2> <div> <ANTIMG class="drop-cap" src="images/initial_t.jpg" width-obs="100" height-obs="93" alt="" /></div> <p class="drop-cap">THROUGHOUT Northwestern Mexico and the border of the United States, from Western Texas to New Mexico and Southern Arizona, this handsome Partridge, called the Blue Quail, is found in abundance, especially on the dry mesas of the San Pedro slope of the Santa Catalina Mountains, up to an altitude of three thousand five hundred feet. In Arizona they are found in flocks of from six to ten, sometimes more, in the most barren places, miles away from water.</p> <p>The Blue Quail, like all the other western and southwestern species, prefers to trust to safety to its powers of running, rather than those of flight. The great trouble is to start them from the ground.</p> <p>A slight depression under a bush serves for the nest of this bird, which is generally lined with a few coarse grasses. Complete sets of eggs have been found as early as April 25. The eggs are extremely thick-shelled, of a buffy-white or cream color. The number laid ranges from eight to sixteen.</p> <p>The habits of this Quail do not differ greatly from those of Bob White, though they have not been fully studied, and the species is of less extensive distribution.</p> <hr class="small" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />