288 PHASIANID^. 



Hub. Mexico 13 13 14 (^White^^, Mann^), Alpine region of Orizaba, Vera Cruz 

 {Sumichrast ^), Sierra Nevada de Colima (Lloyd & Richardson % Michoacan, Pacific 

 slope of Morelos, Cordillera of Guerrero, and Eastern Oaxaca {Nelson & Gold- 

 ^a/^ 9 10 11 12), Omilteme 8000 feet {Mrs. H. H. Smith% Oaxaca {Trujillo^). 



This Long- tailed Partridge is an inhabitant of the highlands of Mexico. It has 

 been found in several districts by Messrs. Nelson and Goldman, and the former has 

 recognized four separate races of D. macrurus. The typical form Mr. Nelson considers 

 to be the bird found in the high pine- and fir-clad mountains about the Valley of 

 Mexico, those inhabiting the other regions of Southern Mexico he believes to belong 

 to diflferent races. I), oaxacoe, from Totontepec, frequents the " mountains of Eastern 

 Oaxaca, from the Cerro San Felipe to Mount Zempoaltepec." The white eyebrow and 

 white cheek-stripe are less distinct than in B. macrurus. There are no white edges to 

 the feathers on the back of the neck, and the neck and sides of the breast are almost 

 uniform, the ashy edges to the feathers being very narrow. D. oaxaccB is also said by 

 Mr. Nelson to be a much darker bird than B. macrurus, " and is characterized by a 

 suppression of the lighter markings seen in that species" ^. 



B. macrourus griseipectus, from Huitzilac, Morelos, inhabits the " heavy oak-forest 

 on the Pacific slope of the Cordillera, in the States of Morelos and Mexico." The 

 rufous stripes on the breast are nearly obsolete, so that the general colour of this 

 portion of the body is " nearly uniform dingy grey ; the back, rump, wings, and flanks 

 are darker and more olive than in B. macrurus" and the flanks are said to have very 

 indistinct narrow lines of rufous lo. 



B. macrourus striatus, from Chilpancingo, Guerrero, is found in " the mixed forest 

 of oaks, pines, and firs on the high Cordillera of Guerrero above 8000 feet. It is rather 

 smaller than the other forms, with a longer and more slender beak. The most 

 conspicuous character is the heavy rufous shaft-lines of the feathers alonw the entire 

 flanks, which do not become obsolete posteriorly as in the rest. The back is very dark 

 and the rump and upper tail-coverts lack the whitish mottling. The tail also is 

 darker " n. 



Mr. Ogilvie Grant, who has made the Game-Birds his special study, does not admit 

 that the characters of these races are worthy of recognition, and we have also been 

 unable, after an examination of our series of specimens, to find a confirmation of the 

 facts adduced by Mr. Nelson. There is undoubtedly a considerable individual variation 

 in examples from the same district, due probably to the age of the birds. These 

 Partridges are so rare and difficult to procure, that a much larger series is required 

 before it is possible to arrive at a definite conclusion. 



Mr. Nelson (' Auk,' xix. p. 388) still maintains the validity of the various races of 

 B. macrurus described by him. 



We have no notes on the habits or nesting of B. macrurus. 



