640 U. S. p. K R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



The two United States species resemble each other so closely as to require a more extended 

 comparison than usual to distinguish them. They can, however, be generally identified by the 

 following diagnoses: 



Synopsis of species. 



Size large. Prevailing color above brownish red, especially on the wing coverts ; the feathers 

 of the upper part of the back tinged with grey and obscurely mottled with dusky ; transverse 

 bars on the edges only, and to a still less degree on the wing coverts. No distinct light spots on 

 the upper parts, except as transverse bars on outer webs of secondaries and tertials. Inner edges 

 of tertials rufous white 0. virginicmus. 



Small. Prevailing color above greyish, with a slight indication of brownish red on the fore 

 part of the back and upper wing coverts, which are conspicuously barred transversely with 

 brownish in zigzag, (from edge to edge,) especially the latter, the feathers of the upper parts 

 all variously edged and spotted with light brownish yellow. Inner edge of tertials dirty yel- 

 lowish ....0. texanus. 



ORTYX VIRGINIANUS, B o n a p . 



Quail; Partridge; Bob-white. 



Tetrao virginianus, Linkaecs, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 277, 16, (female?) — Gmelih, I, 1788, 761. 



Perdix virginiana, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 650. — Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, 1812j 21 ; pi. xlvii. — Doughtt's Cab. 



I, 1830, 37 ; pi. iv.— Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1631, 388 : V, 1839, 564 ; pi. 76. 

 Perdix {Ortyx) virginiana, Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 203. 

 Ortyx virginiana, Jardine, Nat. Library Birds, IV, Game birds, 101 ; pi. x. — Bon. List, 1838. — Aud. Syn. 1839, 



199.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 59 ; pi. 289.— Gould, Mon. Odont. pi. 1. 

 Perdix (Colinia) virginiana, Nuttall, Man. 1, 1832, 646. 



Tetrao marilandicns, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 277, 18.— Gmelin, I, 1788, 761, 17. 

 Perdix marilandica, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 650. 

 Tetrao minor, Bartram, Travels, 1791, 290 bis. 

 Perdix borealis, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. — Ib. Galerie, II, 44, pi. ccxiv. 

 Ortyx borealis, Steph. Shaw 'a Zool. XI, 1819, 377. 

 Virginia partridge, Latham, Syn. II, ii, 777. 



Sp. Ch. — Forehead and line through the eye and along the side of the neck, with chin and throat white. A band of black 

 across the vertex, and extending backwards on the sides, within the white, and another from the maxilla beneath the eye, and 

 crossing on the lower part of the throat. The under parts are white, tinged with brown anteriorly, each feather with several 

 narrow, obtusely V-shaped bands of black. The fore part of back, the side of the breast and in front just below the black 

 collar, of a dull pinkish red ; the sides of body and wing coverts brownish red ; the latter almost uniform, without indication 

 of mottling. Scapulars and upper tertials coarsely blotched with black, and edged internally with brownish yellow. Top of 

 head reddish; the lower part of neck, except anteriorly, streaked with white and black. Primary quills unspotted brown. 

 Tail ash. 



Female with the white markings of the head replaced by brownish yellow ; the black wanting. 



Length, 10 inches ; wing, 4.70 ; tail, 2.85. 



Hab. — Eastern United States to the High Central Plains, Devil's river, Texas.' 



This species is subject to considerable variations both of size and color, the more northern 

 being considerably the larger. Southern specimens are darker, with more black about the head, 

 on the wings, and the middle of the back. There is also a more appreciable mottling on the 

 wings, and the feathers of the back are streaked with black. 



