2204 



THE GAME BIRDS AND RAILS 



head and the throat black, edged with a white band, the neck, mantle, and chest 

 being gray, and having each feather margined with black and spotted with white, 

 while the rest of the upper parts are grayish olive brown, and the under parts buff, 

 barred with black and shading into chestnut. The female has the crest shorter and 

 browner, and the feathers of the head and neck are mostly dirty white, with dark 



middles. This bird, which in- 

 habits the extreme Western States, 

 from Washington to California, 

 ranging inland to Nevada, has been 

 introduced into various parts of 

 the world. A rather peculiar 

 form is the South-Mexican barred 

 quail (Philortyx fasciatus) which 

 has the greater part of both upper 

 and under parts barred. Central 

 and Northern South America are 

 the home of the seven species of 

 crested quails {Eupsychortyx} , dif- 

 fering from all those mentioned in 

 having the tail shorter, as well as 

 in their smaller size. Closely 

 allied, but lacking the crest, is the 

 genus Ortyx, including such well- 

 known forms as the Virginian 

 quail ( O. mrginianus) , or " Bob- 

 white," as it is called in the 

 States, and several other species, 

 with the greater portion of the 

 under parts uniform chestnut or 

 brick red, and inhabiting the 

 Southwestern States and Mexico. 

 Three striking and peculiarly- 

 marked species of quail constitute 

 CAIJFORNIAN QUAII,. Cyrtonyx ', inhabiting the South- 



western United States, Mexico, 



and Central America; the males being distinguished by their full crest, black and 

 white patterned head, and eyed under parts. 



MEGAPODES AND BRUSH TURKEYS 

 Family MEGAPODIID^ 



We now come to the second section of the order, containing two families char- 

 acterized by having the first toe on the same level as the others. The members of 



