THE CALIFORNIAN ORTYX. 127 



is a crescent band of pure white. The feathers of 

 the lower part of the belly are deeply margined with 

 black, and the long plumes of the flanks are marked 

 along the centre with a stripe of yellow. But the 

 beautiful and remarkable adornment is the crest up- 

 on the crown, composed of several feathers, narrow 

 at the base broadening towards the tip, and folded 

 as it were together from the shaft. They are of a 

 dull rich black and lie generally backwards, but can 

 be raised at pleasure ; and upon any excitement are 

 erected, almost bending forward upon the front. 



