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ORTYX. COLIN. 



The Colins, which are peculiar to the American Continent, 

 form a group, distinguished from the Quails and Partridges 

 more especially by the greater thickness and depth of their 

 bills. They resemble the former in having the tarsi destitute 

 of spurs or tubercles, but differ from them in having a rather 

 strong, rounded, straight tail, a bare space behind the eyes, and 

 rounded wings. Their principal characters are as follows : 



Bill very short, remarkably stout, rather broad at the base, 

 high, compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with its 

 dorsal outline arched from the base, where the ridge is narrow 

 but convex, the sides sloping and a little convex, the edges 

 direct and overlapping, the tip rounded. Lower mandible 

 with the angle broad and rounded, the dorsal outline slightly 

 convex, the back broad and convex, the edges involute. The 

 gape-line nearly straight and ascending for two-thirds of its 

 length, then decurved. 



Nostrils linear, covered above by a bare horny oblong oper- 

 culum. Eyes of moderate size ; eyelids feathered ; but with 

 a bare space behind. External ears of moderate size, round. 



Head ovate, a little compressed. Body compact, full. Legs 

 short and stout ; tarsi short, stout, compressed behind, anterior- 

 ly covered with two series of scutella, about fourteen in each, 

 posteriorly with two series of scales meeting so as to form a 

 sharp edge, and without spur or tubercle. Toes rather long 

 and stout ; first very small and elevated, second and fourth 

 equal, third much longer. Claws of moderate length, com- 

 pressed, slightly arched, rather blunt. 



Plumage blended or compact, the feathers ovate, those on 

 the upper part of the head generally elongated. Wings short, 



