perdicinæ

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. A subfamily of gallinaceous birds, typified by the genus Perdix, of small size (as compared with Tetraoninæ or grouse), with naked nostrils and scaly shanks; the partridges and quails. The term is used with varying latitude: for all the birds of the character just stated; for the Old World forms as distinguished from the American Ortyginæ or Odontophorinæ for partridges of the genus Perdix and its immediate congeners alone. See cuts under partridge and quail.