“They appear to inhabit the rocky sides of the mountains and hills in that desolate region of elevated plains, west of the fertile portions of Texas, living amidst the solitude that wraps them in silence, far from enemies and the busy haunts of men. In no instance have I met with this species near any settlements. The wild, rocky hill-sides in the lone wilderness, seem to be their favorite resort; and there, where trees are almost unknown, and vegetation is scant, and where hardly a living thing is seen, are these fine birds found in all their beauty and gentleness. The covies of them showed but little alarm at our approach, and ran along over the rocks, occasionally attempting to secrete themselves beneath them, in which case they would let a person approach within a few feet. When startled by the firing of a gun, they fly but a few yards before again alighting, and exhibit little of that wildness peculiar to all the other species of partridges with which I am acquainted.”
In 1832 this bird was described under the name Tetrao guttata, by Don Pablo de la Llave, in Registro trimestre ó coleccion de Memorias de Historia, Literatura, Ciencasóy Artes, Vol. I. p. 145, Mexico, 1832, which periodical, though little known, and discontinued, we believe, before the completion of the second volume, contains several valuable papers by this and other Mexican authors, relative to the natural history of their country. The ornithological papers by Sr. De la Llave, evince much ability, and contain very accurate observations and descriptions; and a tone pervades them too, which proclaims him to be a true lover of nature. That in which we are interested at present, is entitled, “Sobre tres especias neuvas del genero Tetrao,” and consists of notices of birds of this genus, of which he had living specimens at his residence in the city of Mexico, and descriptions of three species, viz.: Tetrao marmorata (which is Ortyx macroura, Jardine and Selby), T. cristata, (which is O. squamata, Vigors.) and T. guttata, (which is O. Massena, Lesson.)
To the last bird he thus alludes: “It is only a few days since the third species has been brought to me. It is rather smaller than the former, and its deportment is entirely different. It carries its head habitually resting upon its shoulders, the neck being excessively small and deflexed, and in every thing it shows an amiability, and so to speak, a kindness of character (una bondad de caracter) which is not found in any other species of this genus, and it is naturally so tame and domestic as to permit itself to be caught with the hand. These birds are always united, forming a covey, and whenever one is separated, the others follow it; they do not, like others, wish to sleep on elevated places, but sit on the ground, drawing very near together. Their notes, which are not varied, are very low and soft, and I have never heard loud cries from the male. When they are frightened, they show much activity and swiftness; at other times their gait and movement are habitually slow and deliberate, carrying the crest puffed up (esponjada).”
Sr. De la Llave gives as the locality of his specimens, the warm regions near the city of Mexico.
These statements comprise all that is known at present of the Massena Partridge.
The contents of the crop in Capt. French’s specimen consisted exclusively of fragments of insects, pronounced by Dr. Leconte to be principally grasshoppers, and a species of Spectrum. No trace whatever of food of a vegetable character.
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Genus Cyrtonyx. Gould, Monograph of the Odontophorinæ (American Partridges) Introduction, p. 14, London, 1850. Folio.
Bill short, robust, ridge of the mandible curving downwards from its base; lower mandible straight with two slight dentitions near its point; nostrils large, covered and bordered with a membrane. Head crested, the feathers inclining backward and forming a thick tuft on the occiput; wings rather long, tertiaries pendant, longer than the primaries; tail short, and composed of soft feathers. Tarsi rather long and robust; toes short, hind-toe focal, nails large, long and curved. All the known species are natives of America. Type C. Massena.
Cyrtonyx Massena. (Lesson.) Ortyx Massena. Lesson. Centurie Zoologique, p. 189. Paris, 1830. Ortyx Montezumæ. Vigors. Zoological Journal, Vol. V., p. 275. London, 1830. Odontophorus Meleagris. Wagler. Isis. Vol. XXV. p. 277. Leipzig, 1832. “Perdix perspicillata. Lichtenstein in Mus. Berlin.” Gould in Monograph. ut supra. Tetrao guttata. Llave Reg. trimestre, I. p. 145. Mexico, 1832.