PHILOR.TYX JFASCIATUS.
PHILORTYX FASCIATUS, Gould.
Fasciated Partridge.
S p e c if ic C harac t er.
Ph il, cristce plumis elongatis, nigris, apicibus fu s c i s ; pectore e t abdomine fa s c iis transversis
nigris atque albis, conspicue not a t is ; uropygio e t cauda cinereis Jasciis interruptis nigris
atque cinereo-albis transversim undulatis.
Forehead reddish brown; crest deep brownish black, tipped with reddish brown; chin greyish
w h ite ; ear-coverts brown; sides and back o f the head light brown, minutely freckled with
darker brown and white; all the upper surface greyish brown, minutely freckled with
darker brown and white, the coverts and scapularies passing into black towards the
extremity o f each feather, and crossed at the tip with a narrow band o f buff; tail similarly
marked, but browner than the upper surface and crossed by numerous freckled irregular
double bars o f dark brown and greyish white ; primaries brown, with lighter edges; all
the under surface brownish black, each feather crossed at the tip with a broad band of
pure white, which, becoming gradually wider on the centre o f the abdomen, leaves that
part white; on the breast the white marks are very faint, and the feathers are tinged with
rufous; thighs buff; under tail-coverts light buff, with two blackish brown spots down the
centre o f each feather; bill black; feet flesh-colour.
Total length, 8-i- inches; bill, -§■; wing, 4a ; tail, 3 ; tarsi, 1a ; middle toe and nail, 1a.
O rty x fasciatus, Natt. MSS.—Gould in Proc. o f Zool. Soc., Part X I. p. 133.
T his is certainly one of the most interesting members of the group that has lately been discovered ; being
not only a very elegant and beautiful bird in itself, but rendered remarkably distinct from every other species
of the family by the totally different style of its markings, and by the broad and truncated form of its
feathers, which much resemble those of some of the Tree Grouse (genus Bonasa).
I am indebted to the kindness and liberality of His Highness The Prince Massena, of Paris, and of the
Chevalier Du Bus of Brussels, for the loan of the beautiful examples from which my figures were taken. I
learn from the last letter received from my lamented friend Mr. John Natterer, that a specimen had been
purchased by him in Berlin, and now doubtless forms part of the Imperial Collection at Vienna.
Habitat. Mexico.
The figures are of the natural size.