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INTRODUCTION. 15

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; hind-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 Kuropean 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.
PI y g

ry S
The species are—

7. Cyrtonyx Massena : : : : : : “ : Pl. VII.
ocellatus : : i : : : : : P). VIII.

 

8. —

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 quam in Ortyge; culmine gradatim a basi descendente, tomiis mandibule inferioris
denticulis duobus parvulis, apicem versus instructis; naribus modice magnis et operculo obtectis ; orbitis
plumis indutis ; caput crista gracili elongata, decoratum ; ale concave, et rotundate, remige primarid quartd
ceteris longiore; cauda brevis, et e plumis duodecim flexilibus confecta ; farsi cum digitis et unguibus modicé

longi; digitis anticls membran4 basali conjunctis.

Bill short and more slender than in Ortyx; culmen gradually descending from the base; tomia of the under man-
dible with two very slight dentations near the tip; nostrils basal, moderately large and covered with an oper-
culum; orbits plumed; head decorated with a thin elongated crest; wings concave and rounded; the fourth
primary the longest; ¢ai/ 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.

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