192 ■ Catalogue of the Birds of Illinois. 
by subsequent observers, and perhaps not now entering the state (see Nelson, 
p. 122). 
Family PEKDICIDiE. — Partridges and Quails. 
Genus Ortyx, Stephens. 
/ *212. 0. virginiana (Linn.) Bp. Virginia Quail, or Partridge.* Resident. 
*2 12a. 0. virginiana floridana, Coues. Southern Quail. Restricted to the 
heavily wooded bottom-lands of the southern portion of the state (see Nelson, 
Bull. Essex. Inst., IX., 1877, p. 43). t 
Order HERODIONES. 
Family CICONIID-tE. — Storks and Wood Ibises. 
Genus Tantalus, Linnaeus. 
*213. T. loculator , Linn. Wood Ibis. Summer sojourner in extreme south 
of the state, and an irregular summer visitant to northern portion. 
Family IBIDIDJE. — Ibises. 
Genus Eudocimus, Wagler. 
214. E. albus (Linn.) Wagl. White Ibis. A summer visitant as far north 
as Mt. Carmel, where occasionally seen in small flocks. 
Genus Plegadis, Kaup. 
215. P. falcinellus (Linn.) Kaup. Glossy Ibis. Summer visitant, of irreg- 
ular occurrence. 
Family PLATALEID^E. — Spoonbills. 
Genus Ajaja, Reichenbacli. 
216. A. rosea (Briss.) Ridgw. Rosy Spoonbill. Although this species, 
like the Parakeet and Ivory-billed Woodpecker, may not now be found 
within the state, except, perhaps, as a rare or accidental summer visitant, I am 
informed by Mt. A. Wolle, a trustworthy dealer, of Baltimore, Maryland, that 
*It is, of course, quite unnecessary to discuss at length the question of whether 
this well-known bird is a “ quail ” or a “ partridge.” Suffice it to say that these two 
terms, in their proper sense, apply strictly to two very distinct groups of species be- 
longing to this family, and peculiar to the Old World. Our bird is exactly half way 
between the true Partridge and Quail of Europe, in size and many of its other 
characteristics; and, though it is neither , in the strict sense of the word, it may as 
properly be termed one as the other. 
^Specimens obtained at Mt. Carmel, by Mr. Nelson, as well as those in my own col- 
lection, from the same locality, agree strictly with many Florida examples in their Sinn 1 1 
size, very dark colors, and massive bills. There are, however, slight differences in 
color from the extreme developcment of the race, as represented in specimens from 
Southern Florida. Thus, while the black of the jugulum is equally extended, the 
black bars of the lower parts are rather less heavy, and less regularly transverse. The 
most obvious difference, however, consists in the coloration of the dorsal surface, 
where the prevailing tint is bright rusty red, varied by large black blotches, in the 
Southern-Illinois birds, while in the Floridan examples the upper parts have a decided 
dull olive-grayish cast, tinged with rusty, and broken by smaller, more numerous, and 
more transverse markings. The massiveness of the bill, however, by some supposed 
to be specially characteristic of peninsular birds, is equally shared by Illinois speci- 
mens, one example, in my collection from Mt. Carmel, having this member more bulky 
than in any Florida specimen which T have overseen! 
