72 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
account for the bird’s apparently scattered dispersion 
in the districts it frequents. Its indolent ways would 
seem to offer it a prey to any active animal, and doubt- 
less it is easily secured by Hawks, Owls, and four-footed 
depredators always on the watch for a toothsome morsel. 
In some localities where, not long since, it was fairly 
abundant, as in New Mexico in the vicinity of the Gila 
River and around Silver City, it has now become scarce, 
as it proved to be such an easy victim that the coveys 
were soon decimated or quite exterminated,and unless its 
disposition becomes greatly changed and it learns how 
more effectually to protect itself from its enemies, it will 
probably soon cease to exist after its habitats have been 
invaded by those who shoot either for pleasure or profit. 
CRYTONVX MONTEZUMA. 
Geographzcal Distribution.—Western Texas, New Mexico, and 
Arizona. ‘lable-lands of Mexico. 
Adult Male.—F¥orehead, black; with white stripe passing 
upward from nostril; top of head, pale brown, barred with black; 
occiput, richer brown, unmarked, feathers forming a short thick 
crest; rest of head, white, with a plumbeous stripe from angle 
of mouth, extending in a curved line to beneath the ears, meet- 
ing a broader line that crosses it at right angles, and extends 
from above ears to the lower margin of the black throat; a 
small triangular curved black patch beneath the eye; the 
brown color of head is separated from the white by a nar- 
row black line ; the white, on side, and fore-neck, is margined 
beneath by a rather broad black band; upper parts, reddish 
brown, barred with black, and streaked with buff; secondaries, 
pale purplish gray, spotted with black; primaries, dark brown, 
the outer webs spotted with white; sides of breast and flanks, 
dark plumbeous, almost black, spotted with white; line through 
middle of breast, and the belly, dark chestnut; rest of under 
parts and thighs, velvety black; maxilla, black; mandible, black, 
with yellowish spot on the side. Total length, 8% inches; wing, 
5; tail, 2}; tarsus, 14; bill, along culmen, &. 
