Order  V.  UALLIN®, 
Family  IV.  TETRAONiDiE. 
third  Subfamily, 
ODONTOPHORINJ^,  or  American  Partridges, 
^iid  arcl  / more  or  less  compressed  on  the  sides,  and  the  culmen  generally  elevated  at  the  base, 
bideij^  ^ ^ 'which  is  obtuse,  and  prolonged  over  that  of  the  lower  mandible ; the  latter  is 
Covered  nostrils  basal,  and  placed  in  a short  and  rounded  groove,  with  the  opening 
loucr  1,  ^ ^ ’^mnbranous  scale;  the  Wings  moderate,  concave,  and  rounded;  the  Tail  more  or  less 
lona 
^5 
louo- 
S)  broad 
Q,  ^ rounded  ; the  Tarsi  generally  slender,  long,  and  covered  by  divided  scales ; the  ToCkS 
be  inner  shorter  than  the  outer  toe  ; the  Claws  moderate,  slightly  curved,  and  acute. 
Odontophorus  VieilL* 
^'bat  of  culmen  much  arched,  and  the  sides  much  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  overhangs 
bideutated  mandible,  and  is  obtuse ; the  lateral  margins  festooned,  those  of  the  lower  mandible 
short  r near  the  tip,  and  the  gonys  long  and  ascending ; the  nostrils  basal,  placed  in  a 
’’cuuded  • nnd  covered  by  a membranous  scale.  Wings  covering  the  base  of  the  tail,  and 
as'lo?^^  longest.  Tail  rather  short,  or  lengthened  and  rounded, 
^'be  iiiuer  * middle  toe,  and  covered  in  front  with  divided  scales.  Toes  long  and  slender,  with 
iUodern+„  ®boiter  than  the  outer,  both  united  to  the  middle  toe  by  short  membranes;  the  hind  toe 
ted ; the  claws  long,  compressed,  slightly  curved  and  acute ; that  of  the  hind  toe 
thick. 
hise  that  border  the  tropical  parts  of  the  new  continent ; they  frequent  the  forests  or  thick  woods,  especiall) 
^aits,  hepj,jg^  rivers.  It  is  among  the  drj'^  leaves  on  the  ground  that  they  seek  their  food,  which  consists  of 
*•**'1  evenijjg  t\vir  these  are  usually  swallowed  accompanied  with  small  stones  or  fine  sand.  In  the  morning 
'tteraogg  to  the'  • ^ ^bey  i)erch  themselves  on  a low  branch,  very  near  to  each  other,  and  the  males  frequently  give 
bile  on  the  err  ^''hich  sometimes  reverberate  through  the  forests  to  a great  distance.  If  they  become  alarmed 
'aaiHelvgjj  aino^'^'^  ' usually  resort  to  a low  branch,  on  which  they  run  quickly  and  crouch  down,  or  conceal 
">  it  tile  boliage  and  remain  quiet.  The  nest  is  formed  on  the  ground,  in  a thicket,  or  beneath  a log, 
e lays  from  eight  to  fifteen  eggs. 
^Established  by  Vieillot  in  1816  {Anal.  p.  51.).  It  embraces  Dendrortyx  of  Mr.  Gould  (1845). 
