460 Descriptions and Habits of 



ART. XXXIX. — DESCRIPTIONS A?sD HABITS OF SOME OF THE 

 BIRDS OF YUCATAN. By Samuel Cabot, Jr.. M. D. Read Nov. 1, 13-13. 



In the number of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History 

 for October, 1843, published in London, is an article containing 

 a description of four species of Ortyx, said to be undescribed. 

 Among them is one which Mr. Gould, the author of the article, 

 calls " Ortyx nigrogularis," and of which he gives a description 

 of the male only. This bird is the same as the Ortyx discovered 

 by me in Yucatan, when on a visit to that country, in compa- 

 ny with Mr. Stephens, and mentioned by me in a memoran- 

 dum of the birds of Yucatan, which he published in the 

 Appendix to his second volume of "Incidents of Travel in 

 Yucatan," p. 474. The mention 1 there made of it is very 

 slight,* and hardly sufficient to constitute any right of priority ; 

 besides which, I could not wish the name altered, as it is very 

 well chosen, indicating the most marked feature in the appear- 

 ance of the bird. But, as Mr. Gould has only met with one 

 specimen of the bird, and that the dried skin of a full- 

 plumaged male, I have thought it worth while to give as full 

 a description of the history and habits of this bird, as a resi- 

 dence of seven months in their native country would enable 

 me to do, together with descriptions of the plumage of the 

 female and young. 



In reading works relating to the discovery and conquest of 

 Yucatan by the Spaniards, we see mention made of the sac- 

 rifices of quails, offered by the natives to their idols ; some- 

 times the blood only was offered, and sometimes the whole 

 body. The bird there alluded to is undoubtedly the Ortyx 

 nigrogularis, as this is the only bird called Codorniz or Quail 



* Of the genus Ortyx, one species was obtained, which, as far as phimage and size 

 go, is undescrihod; but it has the same note, habits, &,€., as our quail or partridge. 

 It is smaller; the throat of the male is jet black, and most of tlie markings are 

 different, though having a general resemblance to the Ortyx or Pcrdix Yirgiuiaaus. 

 They are very numerous in all parts of Yucatan. 



