KDixon 1948. 3. Lophortyx california Dec 17. Stirton Ranch, 2 1/2 mi. SE Lafayette, Contra Costa Co., Calif. Off to a dirt start from Berkeley, accompanied by Hank Childs and Joe Cornell. Roads, almost impassable because of recent rains - ground very soft with grass sprouting. Had been completely overcast all day but no rain, and dead calm in late afternoon. Arrived at Ranch at 5:40 PM, found no one at home and walked over hill to N-S trending draw where we had hunted on Nov. 21. We split up and I proceeded to circle brush patch where I had flushed quail before. Passerines such as Chamaea, Hyllocichla, Pipilo maculatus etc: were calling but I heard no quail. Gathering dusk at 6:05 I heard Timophila rufescens call and then heard pit pit notes of quail along streambed (lower on slope than where I had been hunting). One or two birds flew from live oaks in which they were roosting but collecting was impossible. We left area at 6:20 PM - others didn't succeed in collecting any specimens.