E, PARTRIDGES, ETC. Family TETRAONIDAE

The members of this family are birds of robust form, subdued (not
brightly colored) plumage, comparatively short legs and necks; the tarsi
and toes are feathered in the Ptarmigan, the tarsi, only, feathered in
the Grouse, and the tarsi and toes bare in the Partridges and
Bob-whites. They feed upon berries, buds, grain and insects.

289. BOB-WHITE. _Colinus virginianus virginianus._

Range.--United States east of North Dakota and Texas and from the
southern British Provinces to the Gulf coast.

A celebrated "game bird" which has been hunted so assiduously in New
England that it is upon the verge of extermination, and the covers have
to be continually replenished with birds trapped in the south and west.
They frequent open fields, which have a luxuriant growth of weeds, or
grain fields in the fall. Their nests are built along the roadsides, or
beside stonewalls or any place affording satisfactory shelter. The nest
is made of dried grasses and is arched over with grass or overhanging
leaves so as to conceal the eggs. They lay from ten to twenty pure white
eggs, which are very frequently nest stained when found. Size 1.20 x
.95. Often two or three broods are raised in a season, but frequently
one or more broods are destroyed by rainy weather.

289a. FLORIDA BOB-WHITE. _Colinus virginianus floridanus._

Range.--This sub-species, which is found in the southern half of
Florida, is very much darker than the northern Bob-white, and is
numerously barred below with black. Its nesting habits and eggs are
identical with those of the preceding.

289b. TEXAS BOB-WHITE. _Colinus virginianus texanus._

Range.--Texas; casually north to Kansas. A grayer variety of the
Bob-white. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the
Bob-white, except that the eggs may average a trifle smaller. Size 1.18
x .92.

291. MASKED BOB-WHITE. _Colinus ridgwayi._

Range.--Sonoran region of Mexico north to southern Arizona.

The female of this species is like that of the Texan Bob-white. Their
nesting habits and eggs are in all respects like those of the other
Bob-whites. Size of eggs, 1.20 x .95.

[Illustration 177: White.]
[Illustration: Bobwhite. Florida Bobwhite. Masked Bobwhite.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 176

292. MOUNTAIN QUAIL. _Oreortyx picta picta._

Range.--Pacific coast of North America from California to Washington.

This is the largest of the Partridge