206 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



America, near their tops, in the sunny spots made by fallen trees, and when fright- 

 ened run swiftly, only taking flight when approached quite suddenly. In Brazil, 

 Odontophorus dentatus is said to resemble the hazel-grouse of Europe in its mode of 

 life, never appearing in the open country, but always remaining in the thick woods, 

 and feeds on fruits, berries, insects, etc. In the morning and evening it is accustomed 

 to perch on a branch, several individuals in a line, and the male utters a loud cry 

 which reverberates to a great distance. It nests on the ground and lays from ten to 

 fifteen pure white eggs. When flushed, the birds fly to the trees, where, amid the 

 dense foliage, it is very difficult to perceive them. The flesh is palatable, and the 

 sexes, like all the species of the genus, differ but little in the color of their plumage. 



Two beautiful species constitute the genus Lophortyx, L. californicus and L. gam- 

 belii. They bear some resemblance to each other, both having black throats, and 

 sides of the head marked with white, blue breasts, and a black crest composed of from 

 five to ten feathers springing from one spot. These are enlarged at the top and curl 

 over forwards. The webs bend backward, and fold over the feather succeeding, and all 

 form one bunch, usually drooping forward, but freely movable. The hen's crest is 

 shorter, and brownish in hue. The species differ greatly in the coloring of the lower 

 parts. The Z. gambelii has the upper part of the abdomen buff, lower part black, while 

 the L. californica has the upper part golden brown, rest chestnut, each feather 

 edged with black. This latter species is found in Washington Territory and Cali- 

 fornia, while the L. gambelii is a native of Arizona, New Mexico, and northern 

 Mexico. 



The mountain-quail, or plumed-partridge, as the Oreortyx pictus is usually called, 

 is a large and very handsome bird. Its habitat is limited, being exclusively the 

 mountain ranges of California and Oregon. The head is ornamented by two long 

 slender feathers arching towards the occiput, the throat is chestnut, neck and breast 

 dark gray, sides and abdomen deep chestnut ; the feathers of the former edged with 

 white, those of the latter banded alternately with black and white. It utters a faint 

 chirp when alarmed, associates in flocks of fifteen or twenty, lives on seeds and insects, 

 and the flesh is excellent. Callipepla squamata, the blue-quail of Arizona and Mex- 

 ico, has a soft, full crest of short feathers, and differs from all the group of so-called 

 quails in America by presenting little or no variation in the plumage of the sexes. It 

 is especially a terrestrial bird, rarely taking refuge in trees or bushes unless very hard 

 pressed, but runs over even difficult ground with much swiftness. Like all quail, the 

 hen lays a large number of eggs, and their color in this species is buffy white, thickly 

 dotted with light-brown specks. JEupsychortyx is the last genus containing the 

 plumed or crested-partridges. The species are natives of Mexico, Guatemala and 

 northern South America, and are all provided with short, soft crests, and are very 

 abundant in the localities they frequent. Three very peculiarly appearing species are 

 contained in the genus Cyrtonyx, their heads b< ' 6 striped with black and white after 

 the manner of a clown in the circus. They dwell in Mexico, one species only, C. mas- 

 sena, extending its range north into Arizona. They are stated to be very gentle in 

 their habits, exhibiting but little fear of man, go in small coveys, and live chiefly amid 

 wild, rocky and barren tracts. 



Ortyx mrginianus, our familiar " Bob White," with his relatives, 0. floridanus 

 of Florida and 0. texanus of Texas, is most widely and generally known. It is the 

 quail of the northern and the partridge of the southern United States, and is widely 

 disseminated over the eastern states and portions of Canada. It is so well known, both 



