192 Catalogue of the Birds of Illinois. 



by subsequent observers, and perhaps not now entering the state (see Nelson, 

 p. 122). 



Family PEEDICID^.— Partridges and Quails. 

 Genus Ortyx, Stephens. 

 *212. 0. virginiana (Linn.) Bp. Virginia Quail, or Partridge.* Resident. 

 *212rt. 0. virginiana floridana, Coues. Southern Quail. Restricted to the 

 heavily wooded bottom-lands of the southern portion of the state (see Nelson, 

 Bull. Essex. Inst., IX., 1877, p. 43).t 



Order HERODIONES. 



Family CICONIID^.— Storks and Wood Ibises. 

 Genus Tantalus, Linnasus. 

 *213. T. locnlator, Linn. Wood Ibis. Summer sojourner in extreme south 

 of the state, and an irregular summer visitant to northern portion. 



Family IBIDID,^.— Ibises. 



Genus Eudocimus, Wagler. 



214. E. albus (Linn.)Wagl. White Ibis. A summer visitant as far north 

 as Mt. Carmel, where occasionally seen in small flocks. 



Genus Plegadis, Kaup. 



215. P. falcinellus {Linn.) KsiUT^. Glossy Ibis. Summer visitant, of irreg- 

 ular occurrence. 



Family PL AT ALEID^.— Spoonbills. 



Genus Ajaja, Reichenbach. 



216. J. ro.?e« (Briss.) Ridgw. Rosy Spoonbill. Although this species, 

 like the Parakeet and Ivory-billed Woodpecker, may not now be found 

 within the state, except, perhaps, as a rare or accidental summer visitant, I am 

 informed by Mr. A. Wolle, a trustworthy dealer, of Baltimore, Maryland, that 



*It is, of course, quite unnecessary to discuss at lenglh the question of whether 

 this well-known bird is a "quail" or a " partridg-e." Suffice it to say that these two 

 terms, in their proper sense, apply strictly to two very distinct groups of species be- 

 lonjring- to this family, and 'peculiar to the Old World. Our bird is exactly half way 

 between the true Partridge and Quail of Europe, in size and many of its other 

 characteristics; and, though it is neither, in the strict sense of the word, it may as 

 properly be termed one as, the other. 



+Specimens obtained at Mt. Carmel, by Mr. Nelson, as well as those in my own eol- 

 lection,from the same locality,agTee strictly with many Florida examples in their small 

 size, very darlc colors, and massive bills. There are, however, slight differences in 

 color from the extreme developement of the race, as represented in specimens from 

 Southern Florida. Thus, while the black of the jugulum is equally extended, the 

 black bars of the lower parts are rather less heavy, and less regularly transverse. The 

 most obvious difference, however, consists in the coloration of the dorsal surface, 

 where the prevailing tint is bright rusty red, varied by large black blotches, in the 

 Southern-Illinois birds, while in the Floridan examples the upper parts have a decided 

 dull olive-grayish cast, tinged with rusty, and broken by smaller, more numerous, and 

 more transverse markings. The massivencss of the bill, however, by some supposed 

 to be specially characteristic of peninsular birds, is equally shared by Illinois speci- 

 mens, one example, in my collection fromMt. Carmel, having this member more bulky 

 than in any Florida specimen which I have ever seen! 



