pKWBpili is M A C fto tra c s .
DENDRORTYX MACROURUS.
Large-tailed Partridge.
S p e c if ic C har a c t er .
Dend. fro n te e t g u la n ig r is ; lined alba super, atque in fra plumas auriculares.
Head crested, the feathers inclining backwards; forehead, throat, ear-coverts and crest black,
the feathers o f the latter with a spatulate spot o f reddish brown at the extremity ; two
lines, one above and the other below the ear-coverts, white; upper part of the chest, back
o f the neck and mantle rich chestnut-red, the edges o f the feathers being g r e y ; all the
upper surface, wings and tail olive-brown, assuming the form o f transverse bars on the
wings and ta il; primaries uniform greyish brown ; under surface grey, each feather with
a line o f chestnut down the centre, and indistinct markings o f greyish white on the
margins o f the w eb s; under tail-coverts black edged with b u ff; bill, feet and orbits red.
Total length, 15±inches; bill, a; wings, 64 ; tail, 6±; tarsi, ; middle toe and nail, 2.
O rty x macroura, Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn., vol. i. pi. 49.—Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. iv. pi. 12.
T his species, the largest of the family yet discovered, is a native of Mexico, and is so rare in the
cabinets of this country, that the specimen in the collection of Sir William Jardine, Bart., is the only one I
am acquainted with ; it was purchased at the sale of Bullock’s London Museum. Another example, which
has been kindly lent me to figure from, is contained in the collection of Prince Massena at Paris; the
colouring of these two specimens is precisely alike, and they appear to be adult males.
The late M. Natterer considered this bird to be identical with the Tetrao nxmus of Gmelin ; but upon
comparing the above-mentioned specimens with his description, I find so great a disparity between them,
that though he may be correct in this opinion, still, as the details given are vague and indefinite, I should
deem it hazardous to adopt Gmelin’s specific name. He states, for instance, that the T. ncevius is twenty-
one inches long, whereas . the present bird does not exceed sixteen inches ; and he mentions nothing respecting
the black colouring of the head and throat; I have therefore retained for it Messrs. Jardine
and Selby’s appropriate appellation of macrourus.
Of the habits and economy of this species I regret to say nothing whatever is known.
Habitat, Mexico.
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.