548 



SCRATCIIIXG BIRDS — GALLIX.E. 



Genus LOPHORTYX, Bonaparte. 



Lophorli/T, Bonaparte, Gcog. and Com]i. List, 1838. (Type, Tetrao Californkus, SnAw.) 



Gkx. Chau. Head with a crest of len<j,'theiiecl f'eatlie)'S springing from the vertex, the 

 shafts ill tlie same vertical ])Lane, tlie webs root-shajied, anil overlapping each other ; the 

 number vai'ies troni two to six or more ; they widen to the tiji, where they are slightly re- 



life^A 



L Californicus. 



curved. Tail lengthened and graduated ; nearly as long as the wing, composed of twelve 

 .stiff feathers. Wings with the tertials not as long as the primaries ; the coverts without 

 any luuisual development; claws rather short ; the lateral reaching to, but scarcely bc}ond 

 the base of the middle ; the outstretched toe not reaching the tip of the tail. 



Several other species of this genus are found in ^Mexico and Lower Cali- 

 fornia. Of these Lopliortyx ncoxcnus. Vigors (Nuttall) ; cristattts, Linnajus ; 

 Z. elegans, Nuttall ; L. Dowjlasii, Bonajiarte ; and " Ortyx " fasciatus, batterer, 

 have been attributed to I"p]ier California, lint not found liy any recent col- 

 lectors. 



Tlie two species of this genus belonging to the Western United States 

 are ^•ery similar in pattern of color, and differ rather in tints. The males 

 may be best distinguislied by the following diagnosis. 



L. Cnlifornkus. Vertex and occipnt liglit smoky olive-brown ; foreliead 

 whiti.sh ; spot in middle of belly orange-chestnut ; sides of body olivaceous- 

 plumbeous. 



L. Gamhclii. Vertex and occiput clear chestnut-1 irown ; forehead black- 

 isli ; spot in middle of belly black ; sides of Ijody orange-chestnut. 



