SUBFAMIL Y onONTOPIIORlN^-:. 



197 



is possible by that method, they lack, to a certain decree, what 

 sportsmen are accustomed to regard as jfame qualities, and by 

 always indulging in these habits are part oularly exasperating 

 to both man and dog. They are accustomed at certain periods 

 to assemble in large flocks, sometimes of several hundreds, and 

 are very abundant in the countries they inhabit. I have, under 

 the genus Callipepla, given my reasons why 1 have departed 

 from the arrangement in the Check List and separated these 

 Itirds from the Scaled Partridges generically. In my opinion the 

 characters are too important to be classed subgenerically, and 

 are entitled to a full generic standing. In fact, there is very 

 little in common either in structure or habits, between the two 

 groups of birds. The only trait possessed by both, to a super- 

 lative degree, is that of putting their faith in their legs, instead 

 of, as would be more natural, in their wings. In all other re- 

 spects they are very unlike. 



Ill' 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Crest lengthened, recurved, elevated, dis- 

 tinct from crown feathers. 

 a. Flanks olive-brown, streaked with white. 



fl'. Upper parts smoky brown; inner edges 

 of tertials deep buff. 



b'. Upper parts grayish brown, inner 

 edges of tertials whitish. 



CALirORNIA PAR- 

 TRIDCK. 



L. calif or- 

 fiicus. 



, VALLEY PAR- 

 > TRIDGE. 



) L. c. vallkola. 



b. Flanks rich chestnut streaked with ( 

 white. ^ 



GAMBEL S PAR- 

 TRIDGE. 



L. gambeli 



GENUS CVRTONVX 

 (Greek Kvprbi, kurtos, crooked; -\-6vvi,0Hux, claw). 



Cyrtonyx, Gould. Mon., Odont., pt. i. 1844, pi. vii. Type 

 Ortyx massena. Less. = O. montezuma, Vig. 



Crest full, soft depressed, covering the occiput. Tail almost 

 hidden by the coverts. Bill stout ; tarsus shorter than middle 

 toe and claw, the latter greatly developed. 



