68 CALIFORNIAN PARTRIDGE. 



than the second, the third much the longest, all scutellate above. Claws 

 long, rather slender, arched, rather obtuse. 



Plumage full, firm, blended. Feathers on the fore part of the head linear, 

 recurved, stiff; those of the neck oblong, of the throat blended, of the other 

 parts generally broadly ovate. On the top of the head is an elegant crest of 

 elongated feathers, six in number, at first decurved, towards the end recurved, 

 narrow at the base, broad towards the end, with the webs deflected, the 

 longest an inch and two-twelfths. Wings short, convex, much rounded, the 

 fourth and fifth quills longest, the first eight-twelfths of an inch shorter. 

 Tail rather short, much rounded, of twelve feathers. 



Bill bluish-black. Iris dark hazel. Feet dull yellowish-grey, claws dusky. 

 The stiff feathers on the forehead are dull yellow; the crest black, the upper 

 part of the head dark-brown, margined with a band of white; the throat deep 

 black, margined by a semilunar band of white, curving up to the eyes, behind 

 which is a bare space. The hind part and sides of the neck are light 

 ash-grey, anteriorly approaching to white, beautifully marked with black, 

 each feather having a marginal band and central line of that colour; the 

 lower half of the neck anteriorly and a part of the breast, are greyish-blue, 

 the rest of the breast reddish-white, its central part chestnut-red, with 

 semilunar black bands; the sides reddish-brown, each feather with a central 

 white streak; the rest of the lower parts light yellowish-brown, faintly 

 barred with dusky, the lower tail-coverts with a central dark brown streak. 

 The back and wings are greyish-brown, the outer secondaries margined 

 externally, the inner internally, with light red; the tail brownish-grey. 



Length to end of tail 9^ inches; bill along the ridge f|, along the edge of 

 lower mandible T 6 2; wing from flexure 4-^; tail 3^; tarsus li; hind toe T 4 2, 

 its claw T 3 2; middle toe lyV> its claw ff. 



Adult Female. 



The female, which is a little smaller, has also a shorter tuft of elongated 

 feathers on the head, and is much less brightly coloured; the bill being 

 brown, the feet yellowish-brown; the upper part of the head dull reddish- 

 brown, the throat and cheeks brownish-white, streaked with dusky; the 

 hind part and sides of the neck greyish-brown, each feather with a median 

 and marginal band of black, as in the male, but fainter; the lower part of the 

 neck and part of the breast brownish-grey, the rest of the upper and lower 

 parts as in the male, but much duller. 



Length to end of tail 9 inches; bill along the ridge -j 5 ^; wing from flexure 

 4/2; tail 3 T 9 2; tarsus lyg-j hind toe yf, its claw ff; middle toe 1 T 2 2 its claw T 5 2- 



