184S.] 



77 



August 29th, 1848. 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



The Committee on the following papers by Dr. Gambel, reported in 

 favour of publication : — 



Description of a nevi Mexican Quail. 

 By William Gabidel, M. D. 

 Ortyx ^thoeacicus. 



With a full somewhat pointed crest, the feathers of which are black, obscurely 

 mixed with dull-brown and rufous. Nape mottled with black and bright rufous, and 

 traversed by two interrupted white lines, which commence of a cinereous colour 

 about the front and pass over the eyes. 'J'hroat and cheeks pale cinereous, each 

 feather with a narrow black margin. Sides of neck, breast and sides pale rufous; 

 deepest on sides of neck, where the feathers have a fevr scattering black spots. 

 Lower part of belly and vent white. Under tail coverts rusty-white, mottled 

 with black. Tail very short and rounded, its colour dark-brown, with freckled 

 irregular bars of rusty-white. Lower part of back and upper tail coverts irre- 

 gularly variegated with different shades of grey, fulvous and black. Upper part 

 of back dark rufous, the centres of the feathers greyish, and traversed by fine 

 irregular, dusky lineations. Wings and scapulars beautifully variegated with 

 black, rufous and grey ; wing coverts and scapulars having the upper vanes deep 

 black, margined and lined with rufous, the lower vanes greyish freckled, and 

 blotched with black, while the shafts are dull whitish. 



Tertiaries on their upper vanes with broad fulvous margins. Feet and legs 

 pale, bill black. Irides chocolate-brown. 



Length 8 inches, wing 5 inches, tail 2 inches, tarsus 1 3-lOths, ridge of bill 

 6-lOths, from angle of mouth 7j|-10ths. 



This appears to be an undescribed species of that group of quails which so 

 much resemble our common 0. virginianus. The present, however, is readily 

 distinguished from that species by its much longer bill and very short tail, as 

 well as its general markings, particularly beneath; the breast and sides being 

 of a plain fawn colour, or pale rufous. The only specimen from which I describe 

 was brought from Jalapa, Mexico, by Mr. Pease. It does not appear to be quite 

 adult, and the markings about the head and throat may be somewhat different in 

 the old bird, still, however, its characters are sufficiently marked. Judging 

 from description, it must very nearly resemble the O. pectoruUs, of Gould ; but 

 besides the difference of markings, he makes no mention of that species having 

 a crest. The length of the bird, as well as of the wing, is in this also, just one 

 inch greater, which would hardly be the case in a young bird. 



Descriptions of two new Californian Quadrupeds. 



By Wm. Gambel, M. D. 



Dipodoinys *c!gilis. 



Colour above yellowish-brown, mixed with dusky; beneath pure white, ex- 

 tending half way up the sides. Head elongated, tapering from the ears to a sharp 

 point- Ears nearly round, sparsely hairy. Eyes large, dark brown. A large 



