PARTRIDGES. 



205 



as jungle-clad and rocky hills, straying rarely to the alluvial plains, and never re- 

 maining in open districts. They ascend the sides of wooded hills as high as five 

 thousand to seven thousand feet, are always extremely shy and wary, most difficult to 

 flush, preferring to effect their escape by running, as they are very swift of foot. Ex- 

 cept during the breeding season they go in small flocks of from five to ten, are exceed- 

 ingly pugnacious in disposition, and fight with head depressed like common fowls, 

 The hen lays from four to ten coffee-colored eggs, and breeds more than once each 

 year. This species has a kind of cackling cry, most often heard when a covey has 



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FIG. 96. Lophortyx calif ornicus, California quail. 



been broken up and its members are desirous of getting together again. They have a 

 very handsome plumage, but their flesh is considered dry and rather insipid, unless 

 perhaps when the bird is very young. 



The American partridges are kept distinct from those of the Old World in the 

 sub-family Odontophorinae, chiefly from having a bidentation at the end of the man- 

 dible, although in some of the species this is hardly apparent. The group consists of 

 nine genera with about forty-five species, some of which are very graceful birds with 

 a beautiful plumage. 



Two genera, Dendrortyx and Odontophorus, contain species of large size, distributed 

 throughout Central and South America. They are forest-loving birds, and go in 

 flocks of six or eight. Some species frequent the ravines of volcanoes in Central 



