188 



VERTEBRATA : AYES OR BIRDS. 



lighter; the under parts whitish, barred with dull brown. 

 The feathers of the ruff are black ; the beautiful tail is 

 tipped with gray, and has a subterminal bar of black. 

 The Ruffed Grouse walks with a proud step, elevated 

 head, the ruffs more or less raised, and its exquisitely 

 beautiful tail partly spread. It takes wing with the loud 

 whirring which all have heard who have had the pleasure 

 of visiting its favorite resorts. 



The Quails or Perdicidse are birds which differ from 



FIG. 220. 



Quail, Ortyx virginianus, Bonaparte. 



the grouse in being much smaller, and in having bare tarsi, 

 and naked nasal fossae. 



The Quail or Bob White of the United States is ten 

 inches long, and the prevailing color above is brownish- 

 red ; the under parts are white, tinged with brown before, 

 and marked with obtusely Y-shaped spots of black ; the 

 head is beautifully marked with pure white and black. 



