123 



THE VIRGINIAN QUAIL OR PARTRIDGE. 



Ortyx Virginianus. BONAPARTE. 

 PLATE X. 



Quail or Partridge, Perdix Virginianus, Wilson's American 

 Ornithology, pi. xlvii. Perdix borealis, Temminck, Pig. et 

 Gallin. Ortyx borealis, Stephens, Continuation. Ortyx 

 Virginianus, Bonaparte, Synopsis, p. 124. 



THE genus Ortyx was formed by Stephens, the 

 continuator of Shaw's General Zoology, for the re- 

 ception of the thick and strong-billed partridges of 

 the new world. They hold the same place there 

 with the true partridges, francolins, and quails of 

 the other parts of the globe, living on the borders of 

 woods, among brushwood, or in the thick grassy 

 plains, and occasionally frequenting cultivated fields 

 in search of grain or roots. During night they ge- 

 nerally roost on trees, and occasionally perch on them 

 by day, particularly when alarmed, when they im- 

 mediately take refuge, aud even walk with ease up- 

 on the branches. Their general shape is robust, the 

 bill is strong, and apparently fitted for a mode 01 

 feeding requiring considerable strength, such as the 

 digging up of bulbous or tuberous roots. The co- 

 lours of the plumage are generally different shades 



