142 Allen's naturalist's library. 



other. Their flesh is good, and, considering the size of the 

 birds, there is a wonderful amount of meat on them. The male 

 bird takes part in hatching the eggs, and should the first brood 

 fail, a second set of eggs is laid. As in all species of this order, 

 the newly-hatched young run about as soon as they are dry. 



The " Codorniz " is caught in traps, and can be easily kept in 

 a cage, but when in captivity their feathers in time become very 

 rough. Dr. Gundlach had no experience of their nesting in 

 cages or aviaries, but had seen a hen take to a newly-hatched 

 chicken and rear it. 



Nest. — Built between the middle of April and July. A hol- 

 low in the ground lined with a few dry grasses, &c., and shel- 

 tered by projecting plants. 



Eggs. — Ten to eighteen in number; white. Measurements, 

 1-2 by I inch. 



III. THE BLACK-BREASl'ED COLIN. ORTYX PECTORALIS. 



Ortyx pedoralis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1841, p. 182; id. Monogr. 

 Odontoph. pt. iii. pi. 5. (1850); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. 

 Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 421 (1893). 



Adult Male. —Throat white, surrounded by a black band 

 which extends over the upper part of the chest ; upper-parts 

 much I'ke those of O. texamts ; uiider-paris tuiif arm pale 

 rufous-chestnut. Total length, 77 inches; wing, 4 ; tail, 2-1; 

 tarsus, n ; middle toe and claw, 1*25. 



Adult Female. — Most like the fcmile of O. texanus, but the 

 upper-parts are darker and browner^ and the black markings 

 on the under-parts heavier. Measurements as in the male. 



Range. — Vera Cruz, Eastern Mexico. 



IV. Grayson's colin. ortyx graysonl 



Ortyx graysom\ Lawrence, Ann. Lye. N. York, viii. p. 476 



(1867); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 422 



(1893)- 



{Piafe XXX 11.) 



