ORTYX V1RGINIANUS. 
OETYX VIRGmiANUS. 
Quail. Partridge. 
Ortyx Virginianus Bon., Obs. Wils.: 1825. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Sternum, stout. Tongue, thick, fleshy, horny at extreme tip which is pointed. 
The sterno-treachealis is absent, but a stout lateral muscle, which is probably a modification of this, emerges from the 
treachea about '25 from the larynx and passing back of it, without adhering to it, becomes attached to the inside of the 
bronchial tubes near their junction with the larynx. A portion of the tympaniform membrane is to be seen above this junc¬ 
tion and the tubes below it are joined by a rather thick membrane. Coeca, 4'00 long, small at base, measuring about '06 
in diameter, then gradually enlarging to about'20 in diameter, then tapering to the blind end, the termination of which is 
pointed. Feathers of head, slightly elongated. 
Color. Adult male. Light chestnut throughout, becoming yellowish on the rump with the feathers above edged with 
bulf, and barred and spotted throughout with black and white, while the central under portions are yellowish-white. The 
throat is white, encircled by a line of black. Line passing from bill over eye and down neck, also white, becoming bufly 
posteriorly and preceded above by a line of black. Wings and tail, brown, the latter having a bluish tinge, and both are 
barred and spotted with yellowish and white. 
Adult female. Similar to the male, but the white markings of the head are replaced by buff and the black linings are 
not as prominent. 
Young Not unlike the adult but are darker as the black markings are much broader. In a transitional stage, between 
this and the down, the feathers are all lined with white. Iris, bill, and feet, brown, in these three stages. 
Nestlings. Are at first covered with yellowish-red down which is lighter below, having a central line of brown on the 
head, three down the back, and one behind eye, of the same color. From this, they gradually assume the plumage last de¬ 
scribed. Bill, iris, and feet, light reddish-brown, in this stage. 
OBESRVATIONS. 
There is considerable variation in plumage, Florida Quails being much darker than Northern birds, especially below, 
where the markings are continuous and wide. Known from all others by the peculiar markings about the head and colors 
as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout Eastern United States, south of the latitude of Northern 
Massachusetts. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from EasternNorth America. Length, 935; stretch, 14'60; wing, 4'55; tail, 265; 
bill, '55; tarsus, l'12. Longest specimen, 10'20; greatest extent of wing, 15'45; longest wing, 5'10; tail, 3'00; bill, '65; 
tarsus, 1 25. Shortest specimen, b'50; smallest extent of wing, 13'75; shortest wing, 4'0<); tail, 2'30; bill, '50; tarsus, l'OO. 
' DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground. They are not very elaborate structures, being composed of leaves, weeds, or other con¬ 
venient material. 
Eggs, from eight to twenty in number, decidedly pyriform in shape, pure white in color, unspotted. Dimensions from 
•95x ) '30 to l'OO x 1'35. 
HABITS. 
The bird now in question, is, as almost every one knows, called Quail in the North 
and Partridge in the South, but wide-spread as they are, I think there is but little differ¬ 
ence in their habits, even in the extremes. Thus Quails which I have found at Miami in 
Southern Florida, did not behave much differently from those that I have seen in some sec¬ 
tions of Massachusetts. It is true, that the Florida birds were tamer than those which gen¬ 
erally occur in Massachusetts, yet I have seen Quails in the latter named section, which 
were as unsuspicious as those in Florida. Thus at Miami, it is difficult to make these birds 
rise, for a bevy will merely run in front of its pursuer, until its members become so scat¬ 
tered in the thick growth of saw palmettos which cover the ground everywhere, that it is 
impossible to follow them, as when one has left the main body, it ceases to utter the pecu- 
