75 
the family. Many of the Pheasants have those feathers which 
lie immediately around the base of the tail — known as the 
upper tail coverts — immensely elongated, forming a large fan, 
like the train of the peacock, which they have the power to 
erect at will, thus exposing a surface of brilliant and beautiful 
coloring, which in many species is without parallel in the 
animal kingdom. These plumes are developed to this extent 
only in the males, and from the fact of their being displayed 
frequently in the presence of the female during the breeding 
season, it is supposed that they play an important part in 
attracting her at this period. 
The Silver Pheasant (^Eiiplocamus tiycthemeriis) and the 
Golden Pheasant (^Thaumalea picta) are natives of China, 
but have been largely acclimated elsewhere. 
The Grouse are an allied group, generally distributed 
throughout the northern hemisphere. A number of them 
are natives of America, where they are commonly, though 
erroneously, called Pheasant. 
The Ruffed Grouse {Bonasa wnbellus') and the Pinna- 
ted Grouse or Prairie Chicken {^Cupidonia cupidd) are two 
of the best known species. 
There is much confusion still existing among naturalists as 
to the relationships which should properly be recognized be- 
tween the Partridges found on the opposite sides of the 
Atlantic, — some holding them to be distinct sub-groups, 
while others claim that the differences are not susceptible of 
definition to the extent of warranting a separation. 
Our well-known Common Partridge, or Quail, as it is 
frequently called (^Ortyx virginianus') , is the most widely- 
distributed species in North America, and has several marked 
varieties in the South-west and in Cuba. The female is lighter 
in color than the male, and has the buff of the neck replaced 
by white. 
OiT the Pacific coast several genera have the head beauti- 
fully ornamented with plumes of feathers rising in various 
shapes. Examples of this form are the Plumed or Mountain 
Partridge {^Oreortyx pictus)^ and the members of the genus 
Lophortyx from Arizona and California, 
