THE THICK-BILLED PARTRIDGES. 155 
number. They are active birds, running very quickly and pro- 
curing their food among the fallen leaves in the midst of the 
vast forests. The stomachs examined contained fruits, berries, 
insects, small stones, and a little sand. The loud and remark- 
able voice of this bird is only heard in the forests, where it com- 
mences the call before daybreak, the sound reverberating to a 
great distance. Azara says that the cry is uttered by both 
sexes, but the Prince was of opinion that only the male bird 
called. During the morning and evening twilight the Capu- 
eiras perch on a branch in a line very close one to another, 
and at this time the male birds frequently give vent to their cry. 
The sport afforded by these birds closely resembles that offered 
by Hazel Grouse ; when a covey is disturbed by the dogs, they 
fly into trees and may sometimes be easily killed, but at other 
times they are lost sight of in the dense foliage. 
Nest.—Placed on the ground. 
Eggs.—Ten to fifteen in number; pure white. 
III. THE BLACK-EARED PARTRIDGE. ODONTOPHORUS 
MELANOTIS. 
Odontophorus melanoiis, Salvin, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 586 ; Ogilvie- 
Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 435 (1893). 
Adult Male-—Top of the head and eyebrow-stripes wzzform 
chestnut ; ear-coverts, chin, and throat d/ack ; general colour of 
the chest and under-parts deep chestnut. Total length, 9°5 
inches ; wing, 5°8; tail, 2°2; tarsus, 1°75 ; middle toe and claw, 
Os 
Adult Female.—Probably differs from the male in having the 
inner webs of the secondary quills tipped with buff, but I have 
been unable to examine any female specimens in which the 
sex has been actually ascertained. 
Range-—Central America; Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and 
Veragua. 
Habits.— Very few notes are to be found respecting the habits 
