California Quail Attacked by Gopher Snake
Journal
Condor
Volume
35
Issue
1 (January-February)
Year
1933
Pages
34
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text
California Quail Attacked by Gopher Snake
On July 9, 1932, in the Rockridge district, Oakland, Alameda County, California, a California Quail (Lophortyx californica) was heard calling in distress by three members of my family. The bird, a female, was located at its nest beneath a bush. It was thrashing about on the ground, while its throat was held fast in the jaws of a good-sized gopher snake. When the snake was struck it released its hold upon the quail and turned its attention to the eggs. The snake swallowed one egg and was undisturbed until the egg had progressed about six inches from its mouth. It was then chased away from the remaining eggs.
Margaret W. Wythe
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California, October 18, 1932
