CALIFORNIAN PARTRIDGE. 153 



linear, recurved, stiff ; those of the neck oblong, of the throat blended, 

 of the other parts generally broadly ovate. On the top of the head is 

 an elegant crest of elongated feathers, six in number, at first decurved, 

 tow^ards the end recurved, narrow at the base, broad towards the end, 

 with the webs deflected, the longest an inch and two-twelfths. Wings 

 short, convex, much rounded, the fourth and fifth quills longest, the first 

 eight-twelfths of an inch shorter. Tail ra,ther short, much rounded, 

 of twelve feathers. 



Bill bluish-black. Iris dark hazel. Feet dull yellowish-grey, claws 

 dusky. The stiff feathers on the forehead are dull yellow ; the crest 

 black, the upper part of the head dark-brown, margined with a band of 

 white ; the throat deep black, margined by a semilunar band of white 

 curving up to the eyes, behind which is a bare space. The hind part 

 and sides of the neck are light ash-grey, anteriorly approaching to 

 white, beautifully marked with black, each feather having a marginal 

 band and central line of that colour ; the lower half of the neck ante- 

 riorly and a part of the breast, are greyish-blue, the rest of the breast 

 reddish- white, its central part chestnut-red, with semilunar black bands ; 

 the sides reddish-brown, each feather with a central white streak ; the 

 rest of the lower parts light yellowish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, 

 the lower tail-coverts with a central dark brown streak. The back and 

 wings are greyish-brown, the outer secondaries margined externally, 

 the inner internally with light red ; the tail brownish-grey. 



Length to end of tail 9^ inches ; bill along the ridge ^|, along 

 the edge of lower mandible {■^ ; wing from flexure 4:^^ ; tail Sg ; tarsus 

 1\ ; hind toe /j, its claw 12 ; middle toe 1^^, its claw |^. 



Adult Female. Plate CCCCXIII. Fig. 2. 



The Female, which is a little smaller, has also a shorter tuft of 

 elongated feathers on the head, and is much less brightly coloured ; 

 the bill being brown, the feet yellowish-brown ; the upper part of the 

 head dull reddish-brown, the throat and cheeks brownish-white, streaked 

 with dusky ; the hind part and sides of the neck greyish-brown, each fea- 

 ther with a median and marginal band of black, as in the male, but fainter; 

 the lower part of the neck and part of the breast brownish-grey, the 

 rest of the upper and lower parts as in the male, but much duller. 



Length to end of tail 9 inches ; bill along the ridge ^^ ; wing from 

 flexure 4/^ ; tail Z^% ; tarsus IjV ; hind toe ^^i , its claw || ; middle 

 toe ly^j, its claw /g. 



