[Case 9.] 
20 BIRD GALLERY. 
Closely allied to the Crested Quails are the Colins or Bob-whites 
(Ortyx), of which ten different kinds are found in the United States of 
N. America and Mexico, distinguished from the last genus by the 
absence of a crest. Of these the best known is the Virginian Colin or 
Bob-white (O. virginianus) (61), from the Eastern United States, which 
has been introduced into various parts of the Old World. This is the 
most prolific of North American Game-Birds, the number of eggs 
varying from twelve to eighteen. As many as thirty-seven eggs have 
been found in one nest, but they were doubtless the product of more 
than one hen. 
One of the most beautiful forms is the Plumed Partridge or 
Mountain-Quail (Oreortyx pictus) (64), found in the Sierras of the 
Western States of North America. Both male and female are nearly 
alike in plumage, and have a very long crest composed of two 
feathers. 
The next genus includes three species, of which the beautiful Cali- 
fornian Quail (Lophortyx californicus) (65) is a familiar example 
frequently to be seen in aviaries. It inhabits the brush-covered hills 
and cafions of the Western States of North America, ascending in 
Lower California to an elevation of about 9000 feet. 
The Harlequin-Quails (Cyrtonyx), often known as “ Fool-Quails” on 
account of their extreme tameness, are found in Central America, 
Mexico, and the States immediately to the north. Of the three species 
known the Massena Quail (C. montezume) (66) is the handsomest, and 
inhabits the rocky. ravines among the higher ranges, being found in 
summer at elevations of from 7000 to 9000 feet. 
Larger birds of this group are the Thick-billed Partridges (Odonto- 
phorus) (67-69), of which more than a dozen species are known 
from the forests of Central and South America. They seldom fly 
if they can avoid doing so, and when flushed betake themselves to the 
branches of trees. 
Another forest bird is the Long-nailed Partridge (Dactylortyx 
thoracicus) (10), a Central American form, remarkable, like the 
Harlequin-Quails, for its very long and nearly straight claws. 
Four rather large species of Long-tailed American Partridge (Den- 
drortyx) (11, 12) are known from the mountain-forests of South Mexico 
and Central America. Two of these are exhibited, and are easily 
recognised by their short stout bill and comparatively long tail. 
Between the second and third subfamilies of the Phasianide there 
appears to be no real line of demarcation, the Pheasants and Peacocks 
(Phasianine) and the Old-World Partridges (Perdicine) being in- 
timately connected with one another by such forms as the Bamboo- 
