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its nest about the middle of May, selecting the woods and orchards 

 for this purpose. The nest, though rudely made, is constructed 

 with rather more art than that of the common Wild Pigeon. The 

 eggs are two — pure white. In autumn it migrates southward, and 

 it is said congregates in large flocks during winter. 



FAMILY PERDICIN^. 



PARTRIDGES. 



GENUS ORTYX— STEPHENS. 



PARTRIDGE. 



Bill short, thick — head small — neck rather short — body full — wings short — 

 rounded — tail short, rounded — tarsi naked, shorter than the middle toe.] 



ORTYX VIRGINIANA— LINN. 



COMMON AMERICAN PARTRIDGE. 



Quail, or Partridge, Perdix Virginiana, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Perdix Virginiana, Bonap. Syn. 



American Partridge, or Quail, Nutt. Man. 



Virginian Partridge, Perdix Virginiana, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Male, a broad band from the base of the up- 

 per mandible passing over the eye down the side of the neck, and 

 a large patch on the upper part of the fore neck, curving on the 

 sides of the neck, white. Female with a band over the eye, and 

 the upper portion of the fore neck, curving on the sides of the neck, 

 brownish-yellow. Adult with the bill short, strong, black ; crest 

 short ; forehead, and a broad line over the eye, continuing down 

 the sides of the neck, and a patch on the upper part of the fore 

 neck, white ; crown brownish-red, bordered and marked with 

 black ; a band from the base of the bill, curving down the sides of 

 the neck, becoming very broad on the fore neck, black ; neck all 

 round light reddish-brown ; the feathers on the sides of the neck 

 spotted with white, and marked with black ; upper parts reddish- 

 brown, variegated with black, gray, and yellowish ; sides of the 



