202 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



FAMILY TETRAONIDJE. 



Hind toe short and weak ; sometimes altogether wanting. Tarsi occasionally with tubercles 

 representing spurs. Tail short, rounded, of more than twelve feathers. 



GENUS ORTYX. Stephens. 



Bill short, thick, higher than wide : upper mandible curved from the base. No naked skin 

 round the eye. Tarsi without spur or tubercle. Tail short and rounded, of twelve or 

 more feathers, longer than the coverts. Some species with crests. 



THE AMERICAN QUAIL. 

 Ortyx virginiana. 



PLATE LXXV. FIG. 168 (Male). FIG. 169 (Female). 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Tclrao virginianus. LlNN-Sos, Syst. Nat. p. 277 (female) ; marilandicus, Id. (male). 

 Maryland Partridge. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 318. 

 Perdix virginianus. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 6, p. 21, pi. 47, fig. 2 (male). 

 P. borealis. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Ortyx id. Stephens. 

 P. (Ortyx) virginiana. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 2, p. 124. 

 Ortyx virginiana. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 5. p. 59, pi. 289 (male female and young). 

 O. id., Common American Partridge. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 187. 



Characteristics. Without distinct crest. Reddish brown, varied with black and white. 

 Throat white, bordered with black. Female and young : Throat and 

 stripe over the eye buff. Length, 9' 5 - lO'O. 



Description. Bill short and robust. Nostrils concealed under the feathers. Body short 

 and bulky. Feathers of the head somewhat erectile, but not forming a distinct crest. 



Color. Upper part of the body and head reddish brown ; sides striped longitudinally with 

 reddish and greyish, or reddish brown and light ash-color ; beneath white streaked with red- 

 dish, and transversely barred with the same. Eye-stripe, light clay-color or white, often 

 descending down the sides of the neck, bordered above and below with black. Throat white 

 margined with black. Lower tail-coverts reddish brown, spotted with white, and marked 



