14 
INTRODUCTION. 
and upon being disturbed fly off to the forest and take shelter among the trees, upon which they readily 
perch and walk along the branches with ease. 
Ot those species with which we are best acquainted, the females are found to differ from the males in 
being of a more diminutive size, and in having the markings of the head and throat less strongly con¬ 
trasted ; for instance, the throat of the female of 0. Virginiams is brown, while that of the male is white. 
The species are— 
1. Ortyx Virginianus . 
2. - Cubanensis . 
3. - castaneus 
4. - nigrogularis 
PI. I. 
PI. II. 
PI. III. 
PI. IV. 
The 0. nigrogularis is distinguished from every other by the strongly-defined crescentic markings of the 
under surface; it is so rare in the continental collections, that the Museum at Brussels is the only one in 
which I have observed it. I am indebted to the Earl of Derby and tbe Viscomte DuBus for the loan of the 
specimens from which my figures and descriptions were taken. 
5. Ortyx pectoralis . . . . . . . , . PI. V. 
6. - Coyolcos.PI. VI. 
The second section comprises two species, which, from the great size of their nails, I propose to form 
into a distinct genus under the title of 
CYRTONYX, 
WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS 
Rostrum breve, et robustum, culmine arcuato, et a basi deorsum cmwato, tomiis acutis; mandibuld inferiore rectd, 
cum denticulis duobus hevibus apicem versus; naribus magnis, mcmbrana obtectis et circumdatis; caput, 
cristd occipitali plumosfi, et rctrorsa, decoratum; orbitis plumis indutis; alee paulo elongatae, tertiariis 
superimpendentibus, et quam remiges primarise longioribus; cauda brevis, vix a tectricibus distincta, mollis, 
laxa; tarsi reticulati, modiee longi, et robusti; digitis brevibus, prseserthn digito interiore; halluce debili, 
et alte posito; unguibus magnis, elongatis, curvatis, ad apicem crassis. 
Bill short and robust; culmen arched and gradually curving downwards from the base; tomia sharp ; lower man¬ 
dible straight, with two slight dentations near the tip ; nostrils large, covered and bordered with a membrane ; 
