_Ortyx_, STEPHENS, Shaw’s Gen. Zoöl. XI, 1819. (Type, _Tetrao
virginianus_, L.)
GEN. CHAR. Bill stout. Head entirely without any crest. Tail short,
scarcely more than half the wing, composed of moderately soft feathers.
Wings normal. Legs developed, the toes reaching considerably beyond the
tip of the tail; the lateral toes short, equal, their claws falling
decidedly short of the base of the middle claw.
The genus _Ortyx_ embraces numerous species, more or less resembling the
well-known Bob-white of the United States. They are chiefly confined
to Mexico, Central America, and the West India Islands. North America
and the West India Islands contain but one species, and this is so
exceedingly variable in plumage that it is only at extreme points of its
range that differences acquire sufficient constancy to be considered
worthy of especial notice. The regions of its extremes of variation are
the northeastern, southeastern, and southwestern limits of its range;
the modifications attaining in Cuba and in Texas sufficient value to
have been deemed of specific importance. But comparing even the three
extremes of plumage, the differences are found to consist only in a
varying amount of the several colors, specimens from intervening regions
forming the connecting links.
[Illustration: =22248= ½
_Ortyx virginianus._]
Species and Varieties.
=O. virginianus.= Head longitudinally striped, with a dark superior
and lateral stripe, a light superciliary stripe (continuing down the
side of the neck), and a light gular patch; these stripes blackish and
pure white in the male, and rusty and ochraceous in the female. Above
mottled with rusty and grayish; the latter prevailing posteriorly,
the former anteriorly. Upper part of the rump, scapulars, and upper
wing-coverts more or less blotched with black. Beneath white, with
transverse, somewhat V-shaped bars of black; sides striped with
rufous; lower tail-coverts rufous, with black medial arrow-head, and
both webs tipped with roundish spots of rusty white.
Black gular collar of the male .50, or less, in width.
Reddish tints prevailing; these nearly continuous on the upper
parts, where the mottlings are minute. Distinct black blotches
on the scapulars, tertials, and upper part of rump. Wing, 4.25
(Florida, Southern Illinois, Missouri, etc.) to 4.80 (northeastern
United States). _Hab._ Eastern Province of the United States;
Jamaica? …
var. _virginianus_.
Grayish tints prevailing; no continuous color on the upper parts,
where the mottlings are coarse and general. No distinct black
blotches on the scapulars, etc. Gular black collar narrower. Wing,
4.10 to 4.50. _Hab._ Plains, from Texas to Kansas (where it grades
into _virginianus_) …
var. _texanus_.
Black gular collar much more than .50 in width.
Black markings predominating in the male. Female hardly
distinguishable from that of var. _texanus_. Wing, 4.10. _Hab._
Cuba …
var. _cubanensis_.[115]
[Plate: PLATE LXIII.
1. Ortyx virginianus. ♂ Pa., 1715.
2. Ortyx virginianus. ♀ Pa., 1714.
3. Ortyx texanus. ♂ Texas, 4099.
4. Ortyx texanus. ♀ Texas, 9347.
5. Oreortyx pictus. ♂ Cal., 3935.
6. Callipepla squamata. ♂ New Mex., 9386.]
Ortyx virginianus, var. virginianus, BONAP.