CALLIPEPLA PICTA. 
Plumed Partridg*e. 
Specific Character. 
Call, capite, plumis duabus elongatis, et gracilibus cristam pendentem nigram efficientibus ornato ; 
gidci saturate castanea, ad latera albo marginata, pectore cinereo ; abdomine splendide castaneo 
fasciis nigris et fulvis transversim notato. 
Head ornamented with two long slender arched black feathers, rising from the vertex and 
inclining towards the back; crown of the head, back of the neck and chest deep ash-grey ; 
throat deep chestnut, bounded on the sides by a line of white, and immediately beneath 
the eye by a smaller streak of black ; lores dull white; all the upper surface olive-brown ; 
tail brown, freckled with a darker tint; primaries brown, margined with a lighter tint; 
sides and abdomen deep chestnut, the outer line of feathers above edged with white ; on 
each side of the abdominal line the feathers are strongly and elegantly marked with alter¬ 
nate bands of black and white. 
Total length, 9f inches; bill, a; wing, 5x; tail, 3x; tarsi, 1a; middle toe and nail, 1a. 
Ortyx picta, Doug, in Linn. Trans., vol. xvi. p. 167-—Vig. in Zool. Journ., vol. iv. p. 490.— 
Less. Ill. de Zool., texte de pi. 52.—Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. i. Gen. Ortyx. 
Ortyx plumifera, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 42.—lb. in leones Avium. 
Perdix plumifera, Aud. Birds of Am., vol. iv. pi. 422. figs. 1 and 2.—lb. Orn. Bio., vol. v. 
p. 220. 
Plumed Partridge, Aud. Birds of Am., 8vo, vol. v. p. 69- pi. 291. 
Foe the discovery of this highly ornamental species we are indebted to the researches of the late Mr. David 
Douglas, in whose baggage three specimens were found after his lamented and untimely death. It will be 
seen by the synonyms given above, that I some years since characterized this bird under the name of Ortyx 
plumifera, not being at the time aware that Mr. Douglas had previously described a bird of this genus (from 
the notes made during his first journey) in the sixteenth volume of the “ Linnean Transactions ” under the 
appellation of Ortyx picta, which in all probability is identical with the present species. Although his 
description does not accord in every particular with the birds characterized by me, and which are in the 
collection of the Zoological Society, little doubt remains on my mind that his description is intended for the 
present bird: I therefore retain his name of picta, and allow that of plumifera to sink into a synonym. 
“ From October until March,” says Mr. Douglas, “ these birds congregate in vast flocks, and seem to 
live in a state of almost perpetual warfare; dreadful conflicts ensue between the males, which not unfrequently 
end in the destruction of one or both combatants, if we may judge from the number of dead birds daily seen 
plucked, mutilated and covered with blood. When feeding they move in compact bodies, each individual 
endeavouring to outdo his neighbour in obtaining the prize. The voice is Quick-quick-quick, pronounced 
slowly, with a gentle suspension of the voice between each syllable. At such times, or when surprised, the 
crest is usually thrown forward over the beak, and the reverse when retreating, being brought backwards and 
laid quite close on the back. Their favourite haunts are dry upland or undulating gravelly or sandy soils 
in open woods, or coppice thickets of the interior; but during the severity of winter, when the ground is 
covered with snow, they migrate in large flocks to the more temperate places in the immediate vicinity of 
