lustrations of Ornithology ": and of Ori. Douglusii, Montezumee, and 

 sguatnatus, \vliich liad been characterized by himself in the " Zoolo- 

 gical Journal." In addition to these species lie exhibited platės of 

 three otliers of vvhich he regretted that he could obtain no spe- 

 cimens in London ; namely, of Ort. inacrourus, iig-uied by Sir W. 

 Jardine and Mr. Selby ; of Ori. Sonninn, figured by M. Temminck 

 \n the " Planches Coloriėes " [No. 75.] ; and of the Ori. cristatus, 

 figured in the " Planches Enluminėes " [No. 126.] of M. Buffon. 

 To these niiie described species, he added t\vo others apparently 

 new to science, and vvhich he characterized under the names of Ort. 

 neoxenus and affinis ; stating at the šame tinie his doubts vybethar 

 both might not be the females or young malęs of the imperfectly 

 known species Ort. Sonninii or cristatus. — The follo\ving are the 

 specific characters of these birds. 



Ortyx neoxexus. Ort. brunneus, supra fusco rufoąue undulatim 

 variegatus, subtus pallido-rufo maculatus ; genis lateribusgue 

 colli ru/escentibus ; caudd brunneo-fus-.o rufogue undulatim 

 fasciatd ; crisld brevi bruaiied. 



Štatui^ rainor quam Ort. californicus . 



Ortyx affinis. Ort. jMllide brunneus ; dorso aUsque fusco palli- 

 doque rufo variegatis ; caudd pallescenti-brunned, fusco alboque 

 undulatim fasciatd ; capile, colio, pectore, abdoini?ieque rvfescen- 

 tibus, hoc albo gultato, illis albo nigroque variegatis ; fronte 

 apiceque cristee elongatce rufo-brunnecB albescentibus. 



Statura rainor quam species jirsecedens. 



Mr. Vigors proceeded to statė, that individuals of four of tlie 

 above-mentioned species, namely, Ort. virginianus, californicus, 

 neoxenus and Montezumce, had been ex.hibited in a living statė in the 

 Gardens of the Society. Specimens of the former tliree, he added, 

 •were still alive there, having braved the severity of the lašt winter 

 without any artificial warmth. They \vere all natives of the northern 

 parts of America. The Ort. virginianus, he also mentioned, had 

 bred iu this country, and had even becorae naturalized in SufFolk. 



He stated in addition, that Capt. P. P. King, R. N., had pointed 

 out to him, amongst his collection lately brought home from the 

 Straits of Magellan, specimens of a bird vvhich he made no doubt 

 vvas the šame as the Caille des Islcs Malouines of M. BufFon, figured 

 in the " Planches Enluminėes" [No. 222.], and vvhich vvas subse- 

 ąuently named Perdix Falklandica by Dr. Latham. This bird has 

 been added to the genus Ortyx by modern authors, but crroneously ; 

 as the structure of the \ving, in vvhich consists the chief difference 

 betvveen the Ortyx of America and the genus Coturnix or the Quails 

 of the Old World, associates the Magellanic bird more closely with 

 the latter group than vvitli the birds of its ovvu continent. Mr. 

 Vigors mentioned, that the form vvhich characterizes the true Quails 

 extends to Australia, vvhere several species are found. And referring 

 to the deviation in form, vvhich partially separates the South 

 American bird from the aliied groups of the šame continent, and 

 brings it in contact vvith those of Australia, and through them 

 with those of the old continent, he dvvelt upon the beautiful series 

 of geographical afiinity, vvhich in this instance united the zoology 

 A 2 



