64 THE COMMON AMERICAN PARTRIDGE. 



Owing, however, to the small space in which they were confined, none of 

 the young were finally raised. These experiments, however, as far as they 

 went, convinced us that this species may be easily domesticated, and that if 

 they are preserved from being molested by cats and other enemies, they may 

 be kept in enclosures and multiplied to a considerable extent." 



The eggs measure an inch and a quarter in length, seven and a half eighths 

 in breadth, and taper to a small rounded point. 



Q,uail or Partridge, Perdix virginiana, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vi. p. 21. 



Perdix Virginiana, Bonap. Syn., p. 124. 



American Partridge or Q,uail, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 647. 



Virginian Partridge, Perdix virginiana, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 388; vol. v. p. 564. 



Male, 10, 15. Female, 9£, 14. 



Breeds abundantly from Texas to Massachusetts; in the interior, high on 

 the Missouri, and in all intermediate districts. 



Adult Male. 



Bill short, robust, rather obtuse, the base covered by feathers; upper 

 mandible with the dorsal outline curved, the sides convex, the edges over- 

 lapping, the tip declinate; under mandible nearly straight in its . dorsal 

 outline, arched on the edges, the sides convex. Nostrils concealed among 

 the feathers. Head and neck of ordinary size. Body short and bulky. 

 Feet of ordinary length; tarsus anteriorly scutellate, a little compressed, 

 spurless; toes scutellate above, pectinate on the sides; claws arched, obtuse. 



Plumage compact, glossy. Feathers of the upper part of the head erectile 

 into a tuft. Wings short, broad, much curved and rounded, the fourth quill 

 longest. Tail short, rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill dark brown. Iris hazel. Feet greyish-blue. The forehead, a broad 

 line over each eye, and the throat and fore-neck, white. Lore, auricular 

 coverts, and a broad irregular semilunar band on the fore-neck, more or less 

 black. Upper part of the head, hind and lower part of the neck all round, 

 reddish-brown. Upper back and wing-coverts bright brownish-red; the 

 lower part of the back light red, tinged with yellow. Primaries dusky, 

 externally margined with blue; secondaries irregularly barred with light 

 red. Tail greyish-blue, excepting the middle feathers, which are dull 

 greyish-yellow, sprinkled with black. Sides of the neck spotted with 

 white. Under parts white, streaked with brownish-red, transversely and 

 undulatingly barred with black. Sides and under tail-coverts reddish. 



Length 10 inches, extent of wings 15; bill along the back ^, along the 

 gap T 7 2; tarsus \, middle toe nearly the same. 



Young Male. 



