BIRDS — PERDIOIDAE ORTYX TEXANDS. 



641 



In No. 2516, from Carlisle, the ground tint of the upper parts, excepting the fore part of 

 hack and the head, is a hrownish cream color, the black markings hoth above and below more 

 distinct than usual. There is also more white about the head. But for the fact of its having 

 been shot near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in a flock of normally colored birds, it might readily be 

 taken for a different species. 



Specimens from the southern States not unfrequently have the white throat feathers margined 

 with black, which sometimes almost conceals the white. A skin, 9350, from Devil's river, 

 Texas, is doubtfully referred to this species, on account of its size and redder color. 



The Ortyx virgitiiamis is thebird about which there has been so much controversy as to the 

 name it should bear. In New York and New England, as well as in many of the western 

 States, it is called the quail, while in Pennsylvania and further south it is known as the part- 

 ridge. Where this bird is called quail, the Buffed Grouse is generally called partridge; and 

 where it is called partridge, the larger species is known as the pheasant. In reality, however, 

 no one of these names can be correctly applied to any American species, though to call our grouse 

 a partridge is, perhaps, a worse misnomer than to apply the same name to our Ortyx. It would 

 be much better, however, to select names for the American birds which have not been used for 

 other species; such, jjerhaps, as Bob white for the Ortyx, and Mountain Grouse, or Ruffed 

 Grouse, for the other species. 



List of specimens. 



ORTYX TEXANUS, Lawrence. 



Ortyx texanus, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye VI, April, 1853, 1. 



Sp. Ch.— General appearance that of 0. virginianus. Chin, throat, forehead, andstripe over the eye white. Stripe behind 

 tlie eye, continuous witli a collar across the lower part of the throat, black. Under parts white, with zig-zag transverse bars of 

 black. Above pale brownish red, strongly tinged with ash, the feathers all faintly though distinctly mottled with black ; the 

 lower back, scapulars, and tertials much blotched with black, the latter edged on both sides, and, to some extent, transversely 

 barred with brownisli white. Secondaries with transverse bars of the same on the outer web. Wing coverts coarsely and 

 conspicuously barred with blackish. Lower part of neck, except before, streaked with black and white. 



Female with the white of the head changed to brownish yellow ; the black of the head wanting. 



Length, 9 inches ; wing 4.35; tail, 2.85. 



Hab. — Southern Texas and Valley of the Rio Grande. 



This species is very similar, in general appearance and markings, to 0. virginianus, the 

 common quail of the United States, being, perhaps, of smaller size, though some specimens 

 seem almost as large as the other species. The chief difference is seen in a much grayer shade of 

 coloration and a more extended and con.spicuous mottling of the feathers. The under parts 

 and head are much the same, except that in 0. texanus the black collar on the throat is narrower, 



July 8, 1858. 



81 b 



