GROUSE, PARTRIDGES 195 



Two nearly incubated eggs in my collection were taken by 

 Mr. Arther T. Wayne at Long Island, South Carolina, May 

 13, 1896. The eggs were laid in a hollow scooped in the sand 

 by the birds within ten yards of high water mark on a beach, 

 and the collector states that this was the earliest date of laying 

 he had ever known. These eggs measure 2.18 x 1.56, 2.33 x 

 1.56. The birds feed on mollusks such as clams, oysters and 

 other bivalves, being said to open the shells of these with their 

 strong bills. They obtain their food on the beds and bars which 

 are exposed at low tide. 



Order GALLING. Gallinaceous Birds. 



Suborder PHASIANI. Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges, 

 Quail, etc. 



Key to the species of PHASIANI. 



A. Wing over 18.00 Wild Turkey. 



B. Wing very much under 18.00. 



1. Wing under 5.50. Bob-white. 



2. Wing over 5.50. 



§. Toes entirely feathered. Willow Ptarmigan. 

 §§. Toes not feathered. 



?. Tarsi feathered to base of toes. Canadian Spruce Grouse. 

 ??. Tarsi not feathered to base of toes ; only about the upper third 

 to half feathered. Canada Ruffed Grouse. 



Family TETRAONID.E. Grouse, Partridges, etc. 

 Subfamily PERDICIN^E, Partridges. 

 Genus COLINUS Lesson. 



289. Colinus virgintanus (Linn.). Bob-white; American 

 Quail; Virginia Partridge. 



Plumage of adult male : above reddish brown ; interscapuleirs with more or 

 less broken bars ; inner vein of tertials margined with buff; rump grayish 

 brown with blackish mottlings and streaks ; front of head, band from bill 

 under eye, patch on upper breast black ; line from bill over eye, throat, lower 



