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FAMILY ODONTOPHORIDAE. AMERICAN QUAILS 
General Description. The smaller representatives of the suborder in Canada. The 
nostril is partly covered with a fleshy scale and not so well hidden in the feathering in this 
family as in the Grouse. There is only one species native to Canada, the Bob-white 
Colinus virginianus, of southern Ontario. In the west, several species have been intro- 
duced and are doing well, the Common Grey or Hungarian Partridge from Europe, Perdtix 
perdix, on the prairie land, the Mountain Quail Oreortyx picta , and California Quail 
Lophortyx califomica, from the western United States in British Columbia. 
The term “Quail” for our American birds is a misnomer. They are 
not Quail in the European sense, but true Partridges. Moreover, our 
so-called “Partridges” are Grouse. These are examples of a common 
misapplication of Old World names to New World forms. There are many 
such cases, confusing to the beginner but too well established in vernacular 
usage to be corrected at this late date. 
The family is of rather southern distribution, reaching its maximum 
in number of both species and individuals in the southwestern United States 
and Mexico. 
Mr. Ogilvie-Grant in Catalogue of Birds in British Museum XXII, 
includes the Common (Hungarian) Partridge, the American Quail, and the 
Pheasants in the family Phasianidae based on naked (not covered by 
feathers) nostrils, bare tarsi, often with spurs, and unpectinated toes, 
without comb-like processes at sides. As the American Ornithologists’ 
Union has not provided for such introduced species in its Check-list 
this family is not recognized by it. Undoubtedly in the spirit of that 
Check-list the Common Partridge and the Pheasants would be given a 
separate family from that of the so-called American Quail. 
289, Bob- white, quail. American quail. Colinus virginianus. L, 10. A very 
small partridge or quail-like bird. Above — coloured in warm shades of pinkish or vinaceous 
brown, with dark brown mottlings, and a few lines of ochre or cream. Below — mostly white, 
decidedly barred with sham black vermiculations. Flanks streaked with a pinkish brown 
which is also suffused evenly over the breast. A black gorget across upper throat, extend- 
ing to cheeks and face, invades the reddish brown crown. A sharply-defined white throat, 
and white superciliary line extends down neck and breaks into fine white spots along sides of 
lower neck. The female is similar, but with duller, more blended colours, no black on face 
and neck, and an ochre instead of white throat and superciliary line. 
Distinctions. The only pinkish-coloured partridge or quail-like bird of its size 
likely to occur in the area covered by this work. 
Field Marks. Quail-like appearance, very small size, and ruddy coloration. Its clear, 
whistled call of “Bob-white” is unmistakable. 
Distribution. Eastern North America, from just north of the Canadian boundary along 
lake Erie to Texas and Mexico. It has been introduced in southern Vancouver island, 
Fraser valley, and Ashcioft and Vernon districts, British Columbia. For a time it 
throve in the last two localities, but later was almost killed off by severe winters, but a 
few may still be found in the districts mentioned. It is not as hardy as the California 
Quail. A further attempt at introduction was made near Victoria in 1922, but with what 
success is not yet known. 
SUBSPECIES. There are several subspecies of the Bob-white recognized, but as 
the source of the introduced birds is unknown and no specimens are available for exam- 
ination, we are unable to say to what race they belong. 
Dr. Coues in his “Key to North American Birds” separates the Old 
World Partridge and Quail, including the next species, from the American 
ones under a separate subfamily Perdicinae, and reduces the American 
Ornithologists’ Union family Odontophorinae to co-ordinate rank. 
