NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 137 



black, or dark brown wavy stripes, blotches and lines. Average size, 

 1.22 X.94. 



289. Colinus virginianus (Linn.) [480.] 



Bob-irliite. 



Hab. Eastern United States; west to Dakota, Kansas, Indian Territory and Eastern Texas. North 

 to Southern Maine and Southern Canada; south to the Atlantic and Gulf States. 



The celebrated game bird of Eastern United States. In the two 

 southern extremes of its habitat it is found in two light and dark cli- 

 matic varieties, as below. Found throughout the greater portion of the 

 year in coveys ; in the early spring paring, each pair selecting a particu- 

 lar locality where they remain during the summer months. Where 

 mating has taken place the male's well-known mellow notes, — Bob- 

 white, Bob-white, may be heard at short intervals echoing throughout 

 the woodland. The favorite nesting places of this bird are on the 

 ground in corners of rail fences, at the foot of stumps surrounded by a 

 thick growth of vegetation, in gardens or cultivated fields where there 

 are bunches of tall grass or weeds. Two and sometimes three broods 

 are reared in a season and nesting begins as early as May ist. The 

 nest is often made in close proximity to the farm house. It is rarely 

 built in thick woods. Dr. Jones mentions a nest which he found 

 alongside a railroad track.* It is usually constructed of dry grasses, 

 straws, leaves or weeds. The complement of eggs is from fifteen to 

 twenty-five, often only twelve, but usually about eighteen. They are 

 pure white unless stained by the bed of grass upon which they lay. 

 At one end they are quite pointed, at the other obtusely rounded ; size 

 1.20X.95. 



289ff. Colinus vlrginiaims floridanus (Coues.) [4800:.] 



Florida Bob-white. 



Hab. Florida. 



A darker colored bird than C. virginianus. General habits, nest- 

 ing and eggs the same. Eggs, 1.19X .92. 



289^. Colinus virginianus texanus (Lawr.) [480,^.] 



Texan Bob-white. 



Hab. Texas and Northern Mexico, north to Western Kansas. 



A bird of paler color than the C. v . floridanus . Eggs smaller than 

 C. virginianus, 1.17X.91. 



292. Oreortyx pictus (Dougl.) [481.] 



Mountain Partridge. 



Hab. Pacific coast from San Francisco north to Washington Territory. 



The beautiful Mountain or Plumed Partridge is a much larger and 

 handsomer bird than the Bob-white. The head is adorned with two 

 arrow-like plumes three or four inches in length ; these are noticeable in 



''■Illustrations of the Nests and Egg of Birds of Ohio. 



