DACTTLOETYX.— ODOJSrrOPHOEUS. 309 



is not sufficient to enable us to pass judgment on Mr. Nelson's subspecies. Mr. Grant, 

 however, is confident that they cannot be upheld. The birds from Yucatan, which 

 are smaller and lighter in colour, and have a whiter breast and abdomen, are perhaps 

 the most widely difierent. 



This is a true forest-bird, frequenting the edges of ravines on the mountain-sides, 

 where it loves to bask in open sunny spots, and is generally met with in small coveys 

 of from six to eight. Salvin found this species one of the commonest Quails on 

 the Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala. He states^ that unless approached quite 

 suddenly it refuses to take wing, preferring to escape by running, and consequently 

 most of the specimens obtained by him were shot on the ground. They sit remarkably 

 close, even when approached within a few feet, trusting to the colour of their plumage 

 for protection. Gaumer ^^ foimd B. thoracicus equally common in all the eastern 

 forests of Yucatan, where it is much esteemed as an article of food. At nightfall the 

 bird utters a plaintive call, beginning with three low whistles. 



ODONTOPHORUS. 



Odontophonis, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 51 (1816) ; Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 430 (1893). 



The Thick-billed Quails have the sexes similar or slightly different in plumage, a 

 moderately long and full crest, the first fiight-feather shorter than the tenth, the tail 

 not more than half the length of the wing and composed of twelve feathers, and the 

 claws normal. 



Of the sixteen species known, five occur within our limits, and the rest are confined 

 to various parts of South America. 



1. Odontoplioms marmoratus. 



Ortyx (Odontophorus) marmoratus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1843, p. 107'. 



Odontophorus marmoratus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 371'; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 218'; 



Zeledon, An. Mus. Nac. Costa Rica, 1887, p. 128 * ; Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii." 



p. 433 ' ; Handb. Game-Birds, ii. p. 153 ' ; Ibis, 1902, p. 243 \ 

 Odontophorus ffuianensis, Lawr. (nee Gmel.), Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 301 '. 

 Odontophorus castigatus, Bangs, Auk, xviii. p. 356 '. 



cJ feminse similis, sed coUo postico et interscapulio magis einereis, nigro transvenniculatis et albo minute 

 pimctatis ; dorso postico paUidiore, ockracescenti-bronneo, rtdnute nigro notato, -uropygio et supracaudalibus 

 rufescentioribns ; gastraei fasciis laetioribus, ocbracescenti-Mvis. Long, tota circa 9-0, alse 5-4. (Descr. 

 maris adnlti ex Cbepo. Mns. nostr.) 



$ . Supra brunneus, nigro et arenario minutissime vermiculatus ; scapularibus et secundariis intimis macnlis 

 nigris majoribus notatis, his intus ad apicem ocbraceis ; dorso postico, uropygio et supracaudalibus 

 paUidioribus, vix olivaceo-bninneis, minute nigro punctulatis ; alls brunneis, tectricibus arenario 

 vermiculatim fasciatis et minute albo punctulatis ; remigibus et rectricibus sepiariis, arenario fasciolatis ; 

 pLleo cristato saturate brunneo, vix rufo lavato, nucbam versus nigricante ; loris et facie laterali cum 

 mento summo sordide castaneo-brunneis ; gutture fuscescenti-brunneo ; corpore reliq^uo subtus brunneo, 

 fasciis arenariis nigro marginatis maculatim ornato. Long, tota circa 9-0, alaB 5-5, caudae 2-1, culm. 0-7, 

 tarsi 1-55. (Descr. feminse adultae ex Bugaba. Mus. nostr.) 



