PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, &c. 133 



upper parts uniform greyish-red ; forehead ash-grey ; throat 

 and cheeks white ; a black band from the bill down the neck. 

 2. Perdix cinerea. Grey Partridge. Bill and feet bluish- 

 grey ; upper parts barred with grey, brownish-red, and black ; 

 forehead and throat yellowish-red. 



GENUS IV. ORTYX. COLIN. 



Bill very short and strong ; upper mandible having its dorsal 

 outline much arched, the sides convex, the tip blunt ; lower 

 mandible with its dorsal outline convex. A bare space behind 

 the eye. Tarsi short, strong, anteriorly covered with two series 

 of scutella, posteriorly with two series of scales, but without 

 spur or tubercle. Toes marginate, with numerous scutella 

 above ; claws short, stout, compressed, arcuato-declinate. 

 Wings rounded. Tail of moderate length, much rounded. 



1. Ortyx mrginiana. Virginian Colin. About ten inches 

 long ; brownish-red variegated with black ; throat and a band 

 over the eye white ; loral space and a band down the neck 

 black. 



GENUS V. COTURNIX. QUAIL. 



Bill very short, compressed ; upper mandible with its dorsal 

 outline sloping at the base, then arcuato-declinate, the edges 

 direct, arched, the tip very narrow ; lower mandible with its 

 dorsal outline straight. Head entirely feathered. Tarsi short, 

 compressed, stout, anteriorly covered with two series of scutella, 

 posteriorly with two series of scales forming a sharp edge, but 

 without spur or tubercle. Toes rather slender, slightly margin- 

 ate ; claws slender, short, slightly arched, compressed. Wings 

 with the first quill scarcely shorter than the second. Tail ex- 

 tremely short, the feathers weak and decurved. 



1. Coturnix dactylisonans. Common Quail. Eight inches 

 long ; upper parts variegated with greyish-yellow, reddish and 

 black ; three whitish bands on the head, and numerous pointed 

 streaks of the same on the neck and back. 



