9390 ♂
Lophortyx californicus.
Genus LOPHORTYX, Bonaparte.
Lophortyx, Bonap. Geog. & Comp. List, 1838. (Type, Tetrao californicus, Shaw.)
Gen. Char. Head with a crest of lengthened feathers springing from the vertex, the shafts in the same vertical plane, and the webs roof-shaped and overlapping each other; the number varies from two to six or more; they widen to the tip, where they are slightly recurved. Tail lengthened and graduated, nearly as long as the wing, composed of twelve stiff feathers. Wings with the tertials not as long as the primaries; the coverts without any unusual development. Claws rather short; the lateral reaching to, but scarcely beyond the base of the middle; the outstretched toe not reaching the tip of the tail. Sexes very different.
The two North American species of the genus have the anterior half of the body, and the upper parts generally, plumbeous; the feathers of neck above, and on the sides, pointed and margined with black. There is a white bar across the head above, between the eyes, which, passing backwards, is bordered behind and internally by black; a second commences at the posterior border of the eye, and then borders the black of the chin and throat laterally and behind, the black reaching up to the eye and bordered anteriorly by a white line from eye to bill; belly pale buff, with a large spot in the centre; the flanks streaked with white. The diagnoses of the species are as follows:—
Vertex and occiput light smoky olive-brown; forehead whitish; patch in the middle of the belly orange-chestnut; feathers of breast with narrow black edges; sides of body olivaceous-plumbeous … L. californicus.
Vertex and occiput clear chestnut-brown; forehead blackish; patch in middle of belly black; none of the belly-feathers with black edges; sides of body bright chestnut … L. gambeli.
PLATE LXIV.
