20 



BIllD GALLEUy. 



Closely allied to the Crested Quails are the Colins or Bob-whites 

 ( Ortyx), of which ten different kinds are found in the United States of 

 N. America and Mexico and distinguished from the last genus by the 

 absence of a crest. Of these the best known is the Virginian Colin or 

 Eob-white [0. virginianus) (Bl) from the Eastern United States, which 

 has been introduced into various parts of the Old World. This is the 

 most prolific of North American Game-Birds, the number of eggs 

 varying from twelve to eighteen. As many as thirty-seven eggs have 

 been found in one nest, but they were doubtless the product of more 

 than one hen. 



One of the most beautiful forms is the Plumed Partridge or 

 Mountain-Quail {Oreortyx pictus) (64), found in the Sierras of the 

 Western States of North America. Both male and female are nearly 

 alike in plumage, and have a very long crest composed of two 

 feathers. 



The next genus includes three species, of which the Californian 

 Quail {Lophortyx calif ornicus) (65) is a familiar example frequently 

 to be seen in aviaries. It inhabits the brush-covered hills and canons 

 of the Western States of North America, ascending in Lower California 

 to an elevation of about 9000 feet. 



The Harlequin- Quails (Cyrtonyx), often known as "Fool Quails " on 

 account of their extreme tameness, are found in Central America, 

 Mexico, and the States immediately to the north. Of the three species 

 known the Massena Quail {C. montezuma) (66) is the handsomest, and 

 inhabits the rocky ravines among the higher ranges, being found in 

 summer at elevations of from 7000 to 9000 feet. 



Larger birds of this group are the Thick-billed Partridges {Odonto- 

 phorus) (67-69), of which more than a dozen species are known 

 from the forests of Central and South America. They seldom fly 

 if they can avoid doing so, and when flushed betake themselves to the 

 branches of trees. 



Another forest bird is the Long-nailed Partridge (Dactylortyx 

 thoracicus) (70), a Central American form, remarkable, like the 

 Harlequin-Quails, for its very long and nearly straight claws. 



Four rather large species of Long-tailed American Partridge [Bendr- 

 ortyx) (7 1 , 72) are known from the mountain forests of South Mexico 

 and Central America. Two of these are exhibited, and easily recognised 

 by their short stout bill and comparatively long tail. 



Bet^\een the second and third subfamilies of the Phasianidm there 

 appears to be no real line of demarcation, the Pheasants and Peacocks 

 (Phasianina) and the Old- World Partridges (Perdicince) being in- 

 timately connected with one another by such forms as the Bamboo- 



