150 Allen's naturalist's library. 



L THE long-nailed PARTRIDGE. DACTYLORTYX 

 THORACICUS. 



Ortyx thoracicus, Gambel, P. Ac. Philad. iv. p. 77 (1848). 

 Odoiitophorus lineolatus^ Gould, Monogr. Odontoph. pt. iii. pi. 



32 (1850). 

 Dadylorlyx thoraclciis, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. 

 p. 429 (1893). 



Adult Male. — Crown, nape, and mantle reddish-brown, mixed 

 with black, and with pale shoulder-stripes ; shoulder-feathers 

 and wings very similar but largely mixed with black ; lower 

 back and rump mostly olive-brown ; eyebrow-stripes, cheeks, 

 and throat, reddish-chestnut ; a b hick patch on the sides of the 

 throat; under-parts grey, tinged with reddish-brown, and with 

 white shafts ; middle of belly and vent white. Total length, 

 9 inches ; wing, 5*3; tail, 2*2; tarsus, 1*3; middle toe and 

 claw, 1*7. 



Adult Female. — Upper-parts much like those of the male ; 

 eyebrow-stripes and cheeks greyish-white; throat white ; chest 

 and breast dull brick-red, with pale shafts. Slightly smaller. 



Eange.— Central America; Southern Mexico, Yucatan, Guate- 

 mala, and San Salvador. 



Habits. — According to Mr. Salvin, "this is perhaps the 

 commonest Partridge found on the Volcan de Fuego. The 

 ravines of this volcano are localities very favoured by several 

 species of the group. It is not often, however, that they are 

 to be found actually at the bottom of the hollow, where the 

 increasing shadow and height of the overhanging trees render 

 the undergrowth of vegetation comparatively scanty, but most 

 frequently near the top of either side, in places where a fallen 

 tree or a slip of soil has laid bare a sunny spot. Such situations 

 are sought for by these birds to bask and sleep in, like Par- 

 tridges in a warm hedge-side. They are, however, true forest- 

 birds, and are usually met with in small flocks of six or eight, 

 probably the brood of the season. 



