SUBFAMILY ODONTOPHORIN^. 197 



is possible by that method, they lack, to a certain degree, what 

 sportsmen are accustomed to regard as game qualities, and by 

 always indulging in these habits are particularly exasperating 

 to both man and dog. They are accustomed at certain periods 

 to assemble in large flocks, sometimes of several hundreds, and 

 are very abundant in the countries they inhabit. I have, under 

 the genus Callipepla, given my reasons why I have departed 

 from the arrangement in the Check List and separated these 

 birds from the Scaled Partridges genericall3\ In my opinion the 

 characters are too important to be classed subgenerically, and 

 are entitled to a full generic standing. In fact, there is very 

 little in common either in structure or habits, between the two 

 groups of birds. The only trait possessed by both, to a super- 

 lative degree, is that of putting their faith in their legs, instead 

 of, as would be more natural, in their wings. In all other re- 

 spects they are very unlike. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Crest lengthened, recurved, elevated, dis- 

 tinct from crown feathers. 

 a. Flanks olive-brown, streaked with white. 



^ CALIFORNIA PAR- 



a! . Upper parts smoky brown; inner edges | tridge. 



of tertials deep buff. f L. calif or- 



^ nictis. 



VALLEY par- 

 tridge. 



L. c. vallicola. 



gambel's par- 

 tridge. 

 L. gambeli. 



b' . Upper parts grayish brown, inner 

 edges of tertials whitish. 



b. Flanks rich chestnut streaked with 

 white. 



GENUS CYRTONYX 

 (Greek Kvprds, kiirtos, crooked; -\-t>vv^,omix, claw). 



Cyrtonyx, Gould. Mon., Odont., pt. i. 1844, pi. vii. Type 

 Ortyx massena. Less. = O. vwntezuma, Vig. 



Crest full, soft depressed, covering the occiput. Tail almost 

 hidden by the coverts. Bill stout ; tarsus shorter than middle 

 toe and claw, the latter greatly developed. 



