124 Synopsis of the Birds 



scutellate ; toes scutellated ; hind toe less than half as long 

 as the inner : nails somewhat compressed, incurved, and 

 acute. Tail short, rounded, deflexed, of from twelve to 

 eighteen close feathers. 



Female but very little smaller and not greatly differing 

 from the male, yet easily'distinguished. Young, after the first 

 year, similar to the adult. Moult annually. 



Reside in fields among high grasses, stubble, he. Not 

 avoiding the proximity of man ; attracted by cultivation, 



Found all over the world : abounding most in warm and 

 temperate climates, and much pursued as game every where. 

 Composed of four subgenera. 



SUBGENUS ORTYX. 



Ortyx, Stephens. Colins, Buff. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. 



Bill short, thick, higher than wide ; upper mandible curved 

 from the base : no naked skin round the eye. Tarsi desti- 

 tute of spur or tubercle in both sexes. Wings rounded ; 

 third and fourth primaries longest. Tail of twelve feathers, 

 longer than the coverts. 



Alight on bushes, hiding and roosting in trees. Monoga- 

 mous : male keeping watch while the female sits, and guiding 

 the chicks carefully, warning them of danger by a cry. Gre- 

 garious until the time of pairing. 



Peculiar to America, where the other three subgenera have 

 no representatives. 



203. Perdix virginiana, Lath. Crestless ; cinnamon-brown 

 varied with black and white ; throat white banded with black : 

 bill black ; feet ash. 



Female and 3'ouilg, stripe over the eye and throat, yellowish. 



Quail, or Partridge, Perdix virginiana, Wils. Am. Orn. vi. 

 p. 21. pi. 47. Jig. 2. male. 



Inhabits common throughout North America as far as the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



