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.
Of 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 contrasted
; for instance, the throat of the female of 0 . Virginianus is brown, while that of the male is white.
The species are—
1 . Ortyx Virginianus . . . . . . . . . PI. I.
2. ------ Cubanensis . . . . . . . . . PI. II.
3. castaneus . . . . . . . . . PI. HI.
4. —— nigrogularis . . . . . . . . PI. IV.
The 0 . nigrogularis is distinguished from every other by thè 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 the 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 deorsùm curvato, tomiis acutis ; mandibulà inferiore rectà,
cum denticulis duobus lsevibus apicem versus ; naribus magnis, membranà obtectis et circumdatis ; caput,
■ cristà occipitali piumosi, et retrorsà, decoratum ; orbitis plumis indutis ; ala paulo elongat», tertiariis
superimpendentibus, et quàm remiges primari» longioribus; cauda brevis, vix a tectricibus distincta, mollis,
laxa ; tarsi réticulati, modicè longi, et robusti ; digitis brévibus, prsesertìm digito interiore ; halluce debili,
et altè posito ; unguibus magnis, elongatis, curvatis, ad apicem crassis.
Bill short and robust ; culmen arched and gradually curving downwards from the b'ase ; tomia sharp ; lower mandible
straight, with two slight dentations near the tip ; nostrils large, covered and bordered with a membrane ;
head crested, the feathers inclining backward and forming a thick tuft on the occiput; orbits plumed; wings
somewhat lengthened in form; tertiaries pendent, overhanging and exceeding the primaries in length; tail
short, blended with the upper tail-coverts, and composed of soft yielding feathers; tarsi spurless, reticulated,
moderately long and robust; toes short; 'the inner of the anterior ones very short; hmd-toe feeble, and
situated high upon the tarsus; nails very large, much lengthened, curved, and thick at the point.
Of this form only two species are at present known, both of which are natives of Mexico; they are
rather small in size, being but a little larger than the European Quail, and are particularly distinguished by
the singularity of the facial markings, by the shortness of the toes and the great development of the nails.
The sexes also appear to differ very much in their colouring.
The species are—
7. Cyrtonyx M a s s e n a .....................................................................PI. VII.
8. ------ o c e l l a t u s ........................................................................ PI. VIII.
The contour of these birds is rendered remarkably round by the shortness of their tails and the fullness
of their plumage.
For the third section I propose the name of
EUPSYCHORTYX,
WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS:—
Rostrum breve, et gracilius qu&m in Ortyge; culmine gradatim a basi descend’ente, tomiis mandibulas inferioris
denticulis duobus parvulis, apicem versus instructis; naribus modicfe magnis et operculo obtectis; orbitis
plumis indutis; caput cristA gracili elongate, decoratum; ala concavse, et jotundatse, remige primariit quarts
cseteris longiore; cauda brevis, et e plumis duodecim flexilibus confecta; tarsi cum digitis et unguibus modick
longi; digitis anticis membranS, basali conjunctis.
Bill short and more slender than in Ortyx; culmen gradually descending from the base; tomia of the under mandible
with two very slight dentations near the tip; nostrils basal, moderately large and covered with an operculum
; orbits plumed; head decorated with a thin, elongated crest; wings concave and rounded1; the fourth
primary the longest; tail short, and composed of twelve flexible feathers; tarsi spurless, and with the toes
and nails moderately long; anterior toes united at the base by a membrane. •