128 



THE LONG-TAILED ORTYX. 



Ortyx macroura. JARD. and SELBY. 



PLATE XII. 

 Ortyx macroura, Illust. of Ornithol. pi. xlix. 



ON this Plate we have figured a species of Ortyx, 

 of a form at variance with those already noticed, be- 

 ing remarkahle for its long and broadly formed tail. 

 We regret that nothing is known of its habits. It is 

 a native of Mexico, and the only specimen we know 

 of was purchased at the sale of Bulloch's Mexican 

 collection. Its length is about 13 inches, the bill 

 very strong, and with the legs orange-red. The 

 feathers on the crown, throat, and cheeks are black, 

 those on the head lengthened into a crest and tipped 

 with reddish-brown. A line of reddish-white ex- 

 tends above the eyes and auriculars, and loses itself 

 on the sides of the neck ; another of the same colour 

 runs under the eyes upon the auriculars. The back, 

 sides of the neck, and upper parts of the breast, are 

 reddish-brown ; the middle of the belly and vent 

 silvery grey, passing into bluish-grey, and minutely 

 freckled with black. The rest of the upper parts are 

 wood-brown, barred and spotted with black, and 



