CALIFORNIA QUAIL.
294. Lophortyx californica. 10 inches.
With its crest of black feathers rising from the crown and curving forward so that the broadened ends hang directly over the bill, this is one of the most beautiful of the family. Upper parts a grayish brown, with buff stripes along the sides of the back; throat black, bordered with white; under parts white, with feathers edged with black, making a shell marking, and having a chestnut patch in the center; breast gray.
Nest.—Usually concealed in a brush pile or in the grass; ten to twenty eggs; of a creamy white or buffy ground color, handsomely blotched with brown of varying shades (1.20 × .93).
GAMBEL QUAIL.
295. Lophortyx gambeli. 10 inches.
Head with an elegant recurved crest of six or seven feathers; normally these are carried as one feather, so closely do they nest together, but when excited or during the mating season, they may separate the feathers, or sometimes curve them forward so as to touch the bill. Hindhead and sides chestnut, the sides with white or buff streaks; the middle of belly black.
