VIRGINIAN COLIN. 405 



nearly concealed. Feet of moderate length; tarsus shorter than the middle 

 toe. Wings short, concave, rounded ; the first feather short, the fifth the 

 longest in the wing. Tail of twelve feathers, rather short, and rounded. 



THIS bird, the Perdix Firginiana of Wilson and Au- 

 dubon, the Ortyx Virgmianus of Bonaparte, called also an 

 Ortyx by Mr. Audubon in his Synopsis of the Birds of 

 North America, has been introduced to this country from 

 the United States. 



The genus Ortyx, says Sir William Jardine, Bart., in his 

 octavo edition of Wilson's American Ornithology, vol. ii. 

 page 223, was formed by Mr. Stephens, in his continuation 

 of Shaw's Zoology, for the reception of the thick and 

 strong-billed Partridges peculiar to both continents of the 

 New World, and holding the place there, with the Par- 

 tridges, Francolins, and Quails of other countries. They 

 live on the borders of woods, among brushwood, or on the 

 thick grassy plains, and, since the cultivation of the coun- 

 try, frequent cultivated fields. During the night some of 

 them roost on trees, and occasionally perch during the day ; 

 when alarmed, or chased by dogs, they fly to the middle 

 branches ; and Mr. Audubon remarks, they walk with ease 

 on the branches. In all these habits they show their 

 alliance to the perching Gallince, and a variation from the 

 true Partridge. 



The first notice I am acquainted with of the occurrence 

 of this American bird in England, is furnished by Colonel 

 Montagu in the Supplement to his Ornithological Diction- 

 ary, under the article Grosbeak, white-winged, where it 

 is stated that a male was shot near Mansfield by Mr. 

 Harrison ; the specimen was sent to the late Earl of 

 Derby. Montagu afterwards adds, the American Quail 

 has been turned out in some parts of the British Empire, 

 with a view to establish the breed ; but we believe without 

 effect. The late General Gabbit liberated many on his 



