26 



PARTRIDGE. 



The Quaily as it is called in New England, or the Partridgej 

 as in Pennsylvania, is nine inches long, and fourteen inches in ex- 

 tent; the bill is black; line over the eye, down the neck and whole 

 chin pure white, bounded by a band of black which descends and 

 spreads broadly over the throat; the eye is dark hazel; crown, 

 neck and upper part of the breast red brown; sides of the neck 

 spotted with white and black on a reddish brown ground; back, 

 scapulars and lesser coverts red brown, intermixed with ash and 

 sprinkled with black; tertials edged with yellowish white; wings 

 plain dusky; lower part of the breast and belly pale yellowish 

 white, beautifully marked with numerous curving spots or arrow 

 heads of black; tail ash, sprinkled with reddish brown; legs very 

 pale ash. 



The female differs in having the chin and sides of the head 

 yellowish brown, in which dress it has been described as a differ- 

 ent kind. There is, however, only one species of Quail at present 

 known within the United States. 



