Order  V.  GALLING. 
Family  IV.  Tetraonhxe. 
The  third  Subfamily, 
ODONTOPHORINiE,  or  American  Partridges, 
have  the  Bill  short,  more  or  less  compressed  on  the  sides,  and  the  culmen  generally  elevated  at  the  base, 
and  arched  to  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse,  and  prolonged  over  that  of  the  lower  mandible ;  the  latter  is 
bidentated  on  each  side ;  the  nostrils  basal,  and  placed  in  a  short  and  rounded  groove,  with  the  opening- 
covered  by  a  membranous  scale ;  the  Wings  moderate,  concave,  and  rounded ;  the  Tail  more  or  less 
long,  broad,  and  rounded ;  the  Tarsi  generally  slender,  long,  and  covered  by  divided  scales ;  the  Toes 
long,  and  the  inner  shorter  than  the  outer  toe ;  the  Claws  moderate,  slightly  curved,  and  acute. 
Odontophorus  VieilL* 
Bill  short,  with  the  culmen  much  arched,  and  the  sides  much  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  overhangs 
that  of  the  lower  mandible,  and  is  obtuse ;  the  lateral  margins  festooned,  those  of  the  lower  mandible 
bidentated  on  each  side  near  the  tip,  and  the  gonys  long  and  ascending ;  the  nostrils  basal,  placed  in  a 
short  rounded  space,  and  covered  by  a  membranous  scale.  Wings  covering  the  base  of  the  tail,  and 
rounded,  with  the  fifth  and  sixth  quills  the  longest.  Tail  rather  short,  or  lengthened  and  rounded. 
Tarsi  as  long  as  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  in  front  with  divided  scales.  Toes  long  and  slender,  with 
the  inner  toe  shorter  than  the  outer,  both  united  to  the  middle  toe  by  short  membranes ;  the  hind  toe 
moderate  and  elevated  ;  the  claws  long,  compressed,  slightly  curved  and  acute ;  that  of  the  hind  toe 
short  and  thick. 
These  birds  are  found  in  the  tropical  parts  of  the  new  continent ;  they  frequent  the  forests  or  thick  woods,  especially 
those  that  border  the  rivers.  It  is  among  the  dry  leaves  on  the  ground  that  they  seek  their  food,  which  consist?  of 
fruits,  berries,  and  insects  ;  and  these  are  usually  swallowed  accompanied  with  small  stones  or  fine  sand.  In  the  morning 
and  evening  twilight,  they  perch  themselves  on  a  low  branch,  very  near  to  each  other,  and  the  males  frequently  give 
utterance  to  their  cries,  which  sometimes  reverberate  through  the  forests  to  a  great  distance.  If  they  become  alarmed 
while  on  the  ground,  they  usually  resort  to  a  low  branch,  on  which  they  run  quickly  and  crouch  down,  or  conceal 
themselves  among  the  foliage  and  remain  quiet.  The  nest  is  formed  on  the  ground,  in  a  thicket,  or  beneath  a  log, 
and  in  it  the  female  lays  from  eight  to  fifteen  eggs. 
*  Established  by  Vieillot  in  1816  (Anal.  p.  51.).    It  embraces  Dendrortyx  of  Mr.  Gould  (1845). 
