196 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
those of Gambel’s Partridge, and its relatives, are unlike any seen 
in the family. The sexes of the Blue Partridge also are indis- 
tinguishable from each other in plumage, while those of Gambel’s, 
etc., are very different in appearance. Generic terms are, as I 
well know, often arbitrary, and sometimes most artificial, but in 
this instance I cannot but think that these birds are more 
properly placed in separate genera. It would be impossible to 
define a single genus to contain them both, without using terms, 
so far as the crests and plumage of the sexes are concerned, that 
would contradict each other. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
A. Crest short, blending with crown feathers. 
) SCALED PAR- 
‘TRIDGE. 
a. No chestnut patch on belly. 
C. sguamata. 
CHESTNUT-BELLY 
SCALED PAR- 
6. Chestnut patch on belly. TRIDGE. 
C. s. castanet- 
gastra. 
GENCUS LOPHORTLVX. 
(Greek Addgos, Jophos, a crest ; + éprvéi, ortux, a quail). 
Lophortyx, Bonp. Geog., and Comp. List, 1838, p. 42. Type 
Tetrao caltfornicus, Shaw. 
Crest recurved, composed of several overlapping feathers, 
lengthened, upright, widening from base to tip; fewer and 
smaller in the female. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and 
claw. Sexes dissimilar in plumage. 
The two species and one subspecies belonging to this genus 
are the most graceful in carriage and beautiful in plumage of the 
North American Partridges. The body is well proportioned to 
the size of the bird, and the variegated dress and peculiar sway- 
ing crest combine to present creatures of singular attractive- 
ness. Loath to take wing, preferring to run so long as escape 
