ii8 Allen's naturalist's library. 



Range. — Tamaulipas, North-eastern Mexico, and the lower 

 Rio Grande Valley, Texas. 



'' The general habits of the Chestnut-bellied Scaled Par- 

 tridge, as well as its food, are very similar to those of the pre- 

 ceding sub-species. The mating- and nesting-season, however, 

 commences somewhat earlier." {Ben dire.) 



Nest and Eggs. — Similar to those of C. squamata. 



THE PLUMED PARTRIDGES. GENUS OREORTYX. 



Oreorfyx, Baird, B. N. Amer. p. 642 (i86o). 

 Type, 0. pidus (Dougl ). 



Sexes almost similar in plumage. A crest of two very long 

 feathers. 



First primary flight-feather intermediate ifi length between 

 the seventh and eighth ; third or fourth slightly the longest. 



Tail composed of twelve feathers, and about three-fifths of 

 the length of the wing. 



Tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw. 



Only one species, rather larger than the Common Quail, is 

 known. 



I. THE PLUMED PARTRIDGE OR MOUNTAIN QUAIL. 

 OREORTYX PICTUS. 



Ortyx picta^ Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. xvi. p. 143 (1823); 



Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn. ii. pi. 107. 

 Ortyxplumifera^ Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 42 ; Aud. B. Amer. 



V. p. 69, pi. 291 (1842). 

 Oreortyx pictiis, Baird, B. N. Amer. p. 642 (i860); Bendire, 



N. Amer. B. p. 13 (1892); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. 



Mus. xxii. p. 397 (1893). 

 Oreortyx pidus pluniif ems ^ Bendire, N. Am. B. p. 14, pi. i. figs.. 



2, 3 [eggs] (1892). 

 Adult Male. — Creast of two very long black feathers ; head, ?teckj 



