69 



PLUMED PARTRIDGE. 



~~Ortix plumifera, Gould. 

 PLATE CCXCL— Male and Female. 



Of this beautiful bird little, I believe, is known. The following notice by 

 Mr. Townsend shews that it is entitled to a place in our Fauna. "This 

 bird inhabits the dense woods along the tributary streams of the Columbia 

 river, and is said to extend south into California. It is at all times a very 

 scarce species, going in coveys of from six to ten, and is rarely seen away 

 from its favourite places of resort. In all my rambles through the Oregon 

 country I was never so fortunate as to meet with this pretty bird, the three 

 specimens which I have received having been procured for me by others." 



One of these specimens has been forwarded to me by Mr. Townsend, and 

 as it proved a female, I made a drawing of the male from a superb specimen 

 now in the Museum of the Zoological Society of London. 



Plumed Partridge, Perdix plumifera, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 226. 



Male, 11, wing 5|. Female, 10, wing 5-J. 



Columbia river and Upper California. Rather rare. Migratory. 



Adult Male. 



Bill very short, stout, higher than broad, its dorsal outline decurved from 

 the base, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and convex, the edges sharp and 

 overlapping, the tip rather obtuse but thin-edged; nostrils basal, oblong, 

 operculate in the fore part of the wide nasal groove, which is partially 

 covered with feathers; gap-line a little arched; lower mandible with the 

 angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the 

 ridge broad, the sides convex, the edges sharp, the tip obtuse. 



Head of moderate size, ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate 

 length, stout; tibia covered to the joint; tarsus rather short, a little com- 

 pressed, edged behind, covered all round with angular scales, of which the 

 anterior are very large; toes four, the first small, and placed higher than the 

 rest; the anterior long, rather slender, the fourth considerably longer than 

 the second, the third much the longest; all scutellate above. Claws long, 

 rather slender, compressed, arched, rather acute. 



Plumage full, firm, blended. Feathers generally oblong, on the sides very 



Vol. V. 10 



