30 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



be discovered. When they are readily found it may be 

 on account of one having stirred after ahghting, arud, 

 when flushed by the dog, the noise of the wings caused 

 the others to start or change their positions, and as any 

 movement would permit the scent to escape, they would 

 also be quickly discovered. I do not think it at all prob- 

 able the birds have any power over the natural scent of 

 their bodies, but its absence at times is probably caused 

 in some such way as that stated above. 



COLINUS VIRGINIANUS. 



Geographical Distribution. — Eastern United States from 

 Southern Ontario and Maine to the Gulf States, but not in Florida, 

 where it is represented by an allied race. West of the Mississippi 

 to South Dakota (possibly introduced in the last named State 

 from Florida), Missouri, and eastern Texas, Its range westward 

 is being gradually extended with the settlement of the country. 

 It has also been introduced into New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, 

 Idaho, and on the Pacific into California, Oregon, and Washing- 

 ton. Breeds everywhere in its range. 



Adult Male. — Forehead and stripe over the eye, extending 

 down the side of the neck, white ; in some specimens, notably one 

 from Massachusetts before me, this stripe and the forehead are 

 buff, like the throat of the female. The upper side of this line is 

 bordered with black. Top of head and neck, chestnut, with black 

 interspersed on the former, and the feathers of the latter, with 

 white on the webs; the chestnut being confined to an arrow-shaped 

 mark at the tip, margined on either side with black. Sometimes 

 this mark is all black. The amount of white seen on the neck 

 varies greatly among individuals, and sometimes there is much 

 buff instead of white shown. Upper part of back, light chestnut ; 

 margin of webs of some feathers, blue-gray, vermiculated with 

 black and more or less conspicuous. Back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts varying from a grayish to a yellowish brown, blotched on 

 middle of the back with black, and with dark brown or black 

 triangular or arrow-headed markings along the shafts of the 

 feathers at their tips, and irregular narrow black bars across the 



