^n- 



m 



196 



G.-fAf/-: B/MDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



those of (iambel's Partridge, and its relatives, are unlike any seen 

 in the family. The sexes of the Blue Partridge also are indis- 

 tinguishable from each other in plumage, while those of Gambel's. 

 etc., are very different in appearance. Generic terms are, as ! 

 well know, often arbitrary, and sometimes most artificial, but in 

 this instance I cannot but think that these birds are more 

 properly placed in separate genera. It would be impossible t't 

 define a single genus to contain them both, without using terms, 

 so far as the crests and plumage of the sexes are concerned, that 

 would contradict each other. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

 A. Crest short, blending with crown feathers. 



a. No chestnut patch on belly. 



b. Chestnut patch on belly. 



SCALED PAR- 

 TRIDGE. 



C. squamata. 



CHESTNUT-BELLY 

 SCALED PAR- 

 TRIDGE. 



C. s. castanei- 

 gastra. 



% 



GENUS LOPHORTYX 



(Greek X60os, lophos, a crest ; -|- ^P'f'vi, ortux, a quail). 



Lophortyx, Bonp. Geog., and Comp. List, 1838, p. 42. Type 

 Tetrao calif ornt'cus, Shaw. 



Crest recurved, composed of several overlapping feathers, 

 lengthened, upright, widening from base to tip ; fewer and 

 smaller in the female. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and 

 claw. Sexes dissimilar in plumage. 



The two species and one subspecies belonging to this genus 

 are the most graceful in carriage and beautiful in plumage of the 

 North American Partridges. The body is well proportioned to 

 the size of the bird, and the variegated dress and peculiar sway- 

 ing crest combine to present creatures of singular attractive- 

 ness. Loath to take wing, preferring to run so long as escape 



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