THE. CO.B.oR ?rolume XI l?farcl?-April 1909 Number DISTRIBUTION AND MOLT OF THE MEARNS QUAIL By Hi S. SWARTH WITH FRONTISPIECE, MAP AND THREE PHOTOS NE of the most interesting, as well as least known of the North American Gallinae is the Mearns Quail (Cyrlonyx monlezu?zce ?nearnsi), known thruout its range in the United States as the "Fool Quail." The vernacu- lar name is derived chiefly from the custom the bird has of lying very closely, and taking flight only when nearly trodden upon, habits greatly in contrast to those of the Scaled and Gambel quails of the same general region, which trust less to con- cealment 'than to the speed of their legs. In his own way, however, the Mearns Quail is quite well able to care for himself, sufficiently so that the opprobrious name would hardly seem to be deserved. It has been argued that the habit of lying close, an exceedingly desirable one from the standpoint of the sportsman, common to the Bob-white and other allied game birds, is largely a matter of education; that is, that originally these species had ?imilar habits to most of the quail now inhab- iting the wilder southwestern country. I believe it is true of the California Quail, and possibly o?P-other species, that in places where they are much hunted they lie more closely and' run h? than in wilder regions where they are seldom disturbed. However the Mearns Quail seems to have found the habit of hiding best adapted to his needs in the first place, tho, in Arizona at least, his. surroundings are in every respect very similar to those of the Mountain Quail in California, which is so preeminently a running bird that it is very difficult to get a wing shot at it. Their call consists of a series of notes slowly descending the scale, and ending in a long, low trill, the whole being ventriloquial in effect and most difficult to locate. It is easily imitated, however, and the birds readily answer when one whistles; when the flock is scattered they will sometimes even return, calling at intervals as they approach. The only other note I have heard is a quavering whis- tle uttered as they take flight.
- Contribution from the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
