430 ODONTOPHORIN^, AMEKICAN PAETEIDGES. 



Subfamily Obontophoeinjg : American Partridges. 



As previously remarked, the Partridges are distinguished from the 

 Grouse by the nakedness of the feet and nostrils, and other characters. 

 They average much smaller — the largest of our species is smaller than 

 the least of our Grouse. The American Partridges have been separated 

 as a subfamily from those of the Old World, but this division, however 

 convenient and geographically distinctive, does not appear to rest upon 

 structural peculiarities of any considerable moment. They are stated 

 to be peculiar in the presence of a tooth or notch on the edge of the under 

 mandible, but this character is often obscure and sometimes inappreci- 

 able. There may be, however, some anatomical differences not yet fully 

 elaborated. The group is represented by numerous species, some of 

 great beauty, of Central and South America, and several others which 

 reach over our southern border. The familiar and well-known Par- 

 tridge of the Southern States — and Quail of the S^orthern — is one of the 

 most attractive game birds of this country. The several United States 

 genera may readily be distinguished, as follows : 



Ortyx. An inconspicuons crest, scarcely visible except in life. Tail about two- 

 thirds as long as the wing. Coloration everywhere variegated. (One species). 



Caixipepla. a short, soft, full crest. Tail nearly as long as the wing. Coloration 

 much the same all over, showing curious semicircular markings. (One species). 



Okeortyx. a long slender arrowy crest, two or three inches long, of two narrowly 

 linear feathers. Tail two-thirds (rather less) as long as the wing. Parti-colored, but 

 the coloration chiefly in masses. (One species). 



LopHOKTVX. A long, recurved, helmet-like crest, of several imbricated plumes, 

 enlarged at the extremity. Tail about as long as the wing. Coloration chiefly in 

 masses. (Two species). 



Cyrtoxyx. a short, soft, full crest. Tail scarcely half as long as the wing. Colora^ 

 tioQ peculiar. (One species). 



As all these genera have each but a single species in this country, excepting Lnphor- 

 tyx, the foregoing is nearly equivalent to a determination of the species. 



Ess. Inst, iii, 1662, 158 (Maine).— Coues, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 289 (Northern 

 New England). — Geay", Cat. Gallina; Br. Mus. 1867, 80. — Daxl & Bank., Tr. 

 Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 287 (Alaska).— FixscH, Abh. Nat. iii, 1872, 62 (Alaska).— 

 Coues, Key, 1872, 235.— B. B. & E., N. A. B. iii, 1874, 457, pi. 62, f. 1, 2, 3. 



Tetrao saliceti, Temm., Man. ii. 471. — Sab., App. Frank. Joum. G81. — EiCH., App. Parry's 

 2d Voy. 347.— AUD., Om. Biog. ii, 1834, 528, pi. 191. 



Tetrao (Lagopus) saliceti, Sw. & ElCH., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 351. 



(?) Tetrao lagopus, FoEST., Philos. Tr. Ixii, 1772, .390. 



Tetrao lapjponicus, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 751. — Lath., Ind. Om. ii, 1790, 640. 



" Tetrao rehmak, Temji., Pig. et Gall, iii, 225." 



Zagopus subalpinus, Nils., Orn. Suec. i, 307. 



Lagopus brachydactylus, Temji., Man. Orn. iii, 328. — Gould, B. E. pi. 256. 

 Sai. — Northern North America, into the northernmost States. 



2. Lagopus rupestris, (Gmelin), Leach. 



Tetrao rupestris, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 751.— Lath., Ind. Om. ii, 1790, 640 (Rod Ctrous, 

 Penjs., Arct. Zool. ii, No. 184 ; Lath., Syn. Suppl. 217). — Sab., Suppl. Parry's 

 Ist Voy. p. cxcv.— EiCH., App. Parry's 2d Voy. 348.— AuD., Orn. Biog. iv, 1338, 

 483, pi. 2HS. 



Tetrao (Lagopus) rupestris, Sw. & EiCH., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 354, pi. 64. 



Lagopus rupestris, Leach, Zool. Misc. ii, 290. — Bp., List, 1838, 44. — ^AUD., Syn. 1839,208; 

 E. Am. V, 184-2, 122, pi. 301.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 635.— Coues, Key, li;72, 235. 



Attagen ru2>estris, Eeich., Syst. Av. 185] , p. xxix. 



Tetrao (Lagopus) mutus, Sw. & EiCH., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 350 (quote Tetrao lagopus, Sab., 

 Suppl. Parry's Ist Vov. p. cxcvii; Sab., Frank. Jonrn. 682; EiCH., App. 

 Parry's 2d Voy. 350). 



Tetrao mutM8, AuD., Om. Biog. v, 1839, 196. 



Lagopus viutus, Bp., List, 1838, 44.— Gray, Cat. Gall. Br. JIus. 1867, 91. 



Lagopus mutus var. rupestris, B. B. & R., N. A. B. iii, 1874, 462, pi. 62, f. 4, 5. 



Lagopus americamus, AuD., Syn. 1839, 207 ; B. Am. v, 1842, 119, pi. 300. 



Lagopus islandorum, Faber, Prod. M. Orn. 6. 



Lagopus reinliardtii et grooenlandicus, Brehm. 

 Sal}. — Arctic America. 



