198 
PERDICIN^. 
ORTYX. 
FAMILY XXXL PERDICIN^. PARTRIDGES. 
Bill very short, stout, broader than high at the base, with 
the upper mandible convex, thin-edged, obtuse, the lower 
with the dorsal line convex, the tip rounded. Head small, 
oblong; neck of moderate length, or rather short; body 
very bulky. Feet rather of moderate length, stout; tarsus 
bare, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe rather small, third 
long, lateral nearly equal, all scutellate, anterior webbed 
at the base. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, obtuse. 
Plumage full and strong ; feathers with the plumule much 
developed. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail 
generally short and rounded, of more than twelve feathers. 
Tongue triangular, pointed ; oesophagus with a very large 
crop ; stomach a very strong muscular gizzard, with the 
lateral muscles highly developed, the epithelium dense, with 
two concave grinding surfaces ; intestine long, and of mo- 
derate width ; coeca very large, oblong, internally with re- 
ticulate ridges. Trachea without inferior laryngeal muscles. 
Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs numerous. 
Young covered with stiffish down. 
GENUS I. ORTYX, Steph. AMERICAN PARTRIDGE. 
Bill very short, robust, rather obtuse ; upper mandible 
with the outline decurved from the base, the ridge narrow 
at the base, on account of the breadth of the nasal mem- 
brane, somewhat distinct in its whole length, with the sides 
convex, the gape-line arched, the edges thin, without notch, 
the tip decurved, thin-edged, obtuse ; lower mandible with 
the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line slightly con- 
vex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip rounded. 
Nostrils basal, linear, operculate, nearly concealed. Head 
of ordinary size, ovato-oblong ; neck rather short ; body 
