( ri 9 ) 
*Ihe Mountain Partridge. 
T HIS Bird is properly a Pigeon or Dove, tho’ it has gained the above Name in 
Jamaica. It was drawn from a Bird brought alive from Jamaica to London , 
and is, figured in the Plate, of its natural Bignefs. 
The Bill is fhaped like thofe in other Doves, blackifh from the Point half its 
Length, the Remainder toward the Head, with the Knob over the Noftrils, of a fine 
Red. The Eyes have their Irides of a fine bright Yellow, and are encompaffed 
with a Skin, bare of Feathers, of a fine Scarlet-Colour ; which Skin reaches from 
the Eyes on each Side to the Corners of the Bill. The Feathers joining to the upper 
Part of the Bill, on the Forehead, are of a Clay-Colour ; the Remainder of the Head, 
the back Part and Sides of the Neck, are of a fine, dark, reddifh Purple-Colour, fhin- 
ing with a changeable Glofs; the Fore-part of the Neck is of a reddifh Clay-Colour. 
From the Angles of the Mouth there pafies a white Line under each Eye ; it is alio 
White on the Throat, or under Side of the Head. At the Bottom of the Neck, juft 
at the Joint of the Wing, on each Side, is a fmall Plat of White tranfverlly placed. 
The Back, Wings and Tail, are of a reddifh Copper-Colour ; the Covert-Feathers 
of the Wings are edged with a lighter Copper-Colour ; the Breaft, Belly, Thighs, 
and Covert-Feathers under the Tail, are of a lightifli Yellow, or Clay-Colour. The 
Legs and Feet are made like thofe of other Doves, having Toes on each Foot, placed 
after the ufual Manner : Both Legs and Feet of a red or Role-Colour ; the Claws are 
brownifh. 
This Bird was the Property of my good Friend Mr. John Warner , Merchant, at 
Rotherhith , near London , who permitted me to make a Drawing from it. Tho’ it hath 
already been well defcribed by my worthy Patron Sir Hans Sloane , Baronet, in his 
Hiftory of Jamaica , VoL II. L*. 304. Yet, as it has never appeared in its Native Co- 
lours, I have ventured here to publifti it, and to complete my Defcription fhall bor- 
row the following Account from Sir Hans Sloane. “ The Stomach was pretty large, 
“ and filled with a Sort of Bay-Berries, call’d Sweet-w'ood Berries ; it was not very 
4t mufcular, neither was there any Thing extraordinary in the Entrails of this Bird; 
they are found in the woody Mountains near the Angels, where they feed on Ber- 
4< ries. They are accounted very good Food : They build their Nefts in low-bough’d 
ct Trees, and make them with Sticks laid crofs one another, on which is placed 
“ Hair and Cotton; they are made fo little, that the Young when feather’d fall out 
" of them on the Ground, and are there fed by them.” See the Figure, Natural 
Hiftory of Jamaica , Tab. 261* Fig. 1. 
The 
