ORTYX DOUGLAS1I, Vigors. 

 Douglass Ortyx. 



PLATE CVII. 



Mas. O. corpore supra griseo-brunnescente, tectricibus alarum scapularibusque luteo 

 marginatis ; capite crista erecta, plumis frontis apicibus rigidibus ; jugulo 

 lateribusque colli albidis brunneo maculatis, pectore ventreque brunneo-cine- 

 rascentibus maculis albidis, crisso ferrugineo-uigro maculato, remigibus brun- 

 neis ; Cauda grisea, luteo nigroque ad apicem minute maculata. 



Fcem. obscurior, crista brevissima. 



Ortyx Douglasii, Fig. Zool. Journ. vol. iv. p. 354 Doug. Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. xvi. 



part i. p. 145. 



We are indebted to Mr David Douglas for the discovery of this species, 

 and about the same time it appears to have been met with by Captain 

 Beechey on the western coast of America. Our Plate and description are 

 taken from a solitary individual killed at Montery during the latter expe- 

 dition, — all Mr Douglas's specimens, with many other treasures, botanical 

 as well as ornithological, being unfortunately lost when crossing one of the 

 rapid tributary streams of the river Multhomack. The following is a de- 

 scription taken from the individual alluded to, now in the extensive col- 

 lection of the London Zoological Society. 



The length about eight inches. The forehead is clothed with narrow 

 feathers, each having the rachis prolonged at the tip, and shewing a horny 

 point similar to those of many species of the genus Rallus. Crest upwards 

 of an inch in length, composed of five or six feathers, standing erect # , or 



* We made our drawing and plate before having seen Mr Douglas's description, and our 

 notes even mention the crest as pointing backwards, which it certainly did in the dry skin we exa- 



