VIRGINIAN COLIN. 349 



This bird, tlic Perdix Virgi7iiatia of Wilson and Mr. 

 Audubon, the Orti/x Virginianus of Bonajiartc, called also 

 an Orti/x by Mr. Audubon in his recently published Sy- 

 nopsis of the Birds of North America, has been introduced 

 to this country from the United States. 



The genus Orfi/x, says Sir William Jardine, Bart, in his 

 octavo edition of Wilson's American Ornithology, vol. ii. 

 page 223, was formed by Mr. Stephens, in his continuation 

 of Shaw's Zoology, for the reception of the thick and strong- 

 billed Partridges peculiar to both continents of the New 

 World, and holding the place there, with the Partridges, 

 Francolins, and Quails of other countries. They live on the 

 borders of woods, among brushwood, or on the thick grassy 

 plains, and, since the cultivation of the country, frequent 

 cultivated fields. During the night some of them roost on 

 trees, and occasionally perch during the day ; when alarmed, 

 or chased by dogs, they fly to the middle branches ; and Mr. 

 Audubon remarks, they walk with ease on the branches. In 

 all these habits they show their alliance to the perching 

 Gallina, and a variation from the true Partridge. 



The first notice I am acquainted with of the occurrence of this 

 American bird in England, is furnished by Colonel Montagu 

 in the Supplement to his Ornithological Dictionary, under 

 the article Grosbeak, white-winged, where it is stated that a 

 male was shot near Mansfield by Mr. Harrison ; the speci- 

 men Avas sent to Lord Stanley, now Earl of Derby. Mon- 

 tagu afterwards adds, the American Quail has been turned 

 out in some parts of the British Empire, with a view to 

 establish the breed ; but we believe without effect. The late 

 General Gabbit liberated many on his estates in Ireland ; but 

 in two years the breed was lost. Sir William Jardine ob- 

 serves in the Naturalist's Library, that " the Virginian Par- 

 tridge has been attempted to be introduced in several parts 

 of the European Continent, but we are uncertain with what 



