124 Synopsis of the Birds 
scutellate ; toes scutellated ; hind toe less than half as long 
as the inner : nails somewhat compressed, incurved, and 
acute. Tail short, rounded, deflexed, of from twelve to 
eighteen close feathers. 
Female but very little smaller and not greatly differing 
from the male, yet easily distinguished. Young, after the first 
year, similar to the adult. Moult annually. 
Reside in fields among high grasses, stubble, he. Not 
avoiding the proximity of man ; attracted by cultivation, 
Found all over the world : abounding most in warm and 
temperate climates, and much pursued as game every where. 
Composed of four subgenera. 
SUBGENUS ORTYX. 
Ortyx , Stephens. Colins , Buff. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. 
Bill short, thick, higher than wide ; upper mandible curved 
from the base : no naked skin round the eye. Tarsi desti- 
tute of spur or tubercle in both sexes. Wings rounded ; 
third and fourth primaries longest. Tail of twelve feathers, 
longer than the coverts. 
Alight on bushes, hiding and roosting in trees. Monoga- 
mous : male keeping watch while the female sits, and guiding 
the chicks carefully, warning them of danger by a cry. Gre- 
garious until the time of pairing. 
Peculiar to America, where the other three subgenera have 
no representatives. 
203. Perdix virginiana, Lath. Crestless ; cinnamon-brown 
varied with black and white ; throat white banded with black ; 
bill black ; feet ash. 
Female and young, stripe over the eye and throat, yellowish. 
Quail, or Partridge , Perdix virginiana , Wils. Am. Orn. vi. 
p. 21 . pi. 47. fig. 2. male. 
Inhabits common throughout North America as far as the 
Rocky Mountains. 
