^2S NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



usually larger aud more marked than those of the ordiuaiy , BrowB 

 Quail. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch: (1) 1-36 x 98, 

 (2) 1-34 X 1-04, (3) 1-3 x -96, (4) 1-3 x -95, (5) 1-29 x 1'04, (6) 1-29 x 1-04, 

 (7) 1-29 X 1-01, (8) 1-28 x 1-01, (9) 1-26 x 1-0. 



Observations. — Although the excellent " Catalogue " of Birds of the 

 British Museum has clubbed all our Brown or Swamp Quails luider the 

 one species, I prefer (and I think collectors generally will uphold me) 

 to keep the largest (Tasmanian) variety, at all events, separate. 



The large and handsome Tasmanian Brown Quail would appear to 

 be £111 an insular form of the ordinary Brown Quail, and has occasionally 

 been recorded for Victoria, where it was known to shooters as the 

 " Silver " Quail. 



Gould, who states that from twelve to eighteen eggs are laid, pro- 

 cured his examples in the swamps below New Norfolk. Mr. Brent 

 found a fine clutch of thirteen eggs, 15tli October, 1896, which now 

 fill up a considerable niche in Mr. G. E. Shepherd's collection. 



Breeding months, October tO' December and later. Fresh eggs have 

 been found at the end of March. 



565. EXCALFACTORIA CHINENSIS SUb-SpCcies) LINEATA, Scopoli. (491) 



E. australis, Gould. 



CHESTNUT-BELLIED QUAIL. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 92. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxii., p. 253. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs — Ramsay : Ibis, p. 279 (iS6S) ; Diggles : 

 Companion Gould's Handbook, p. 119 (1877); Campbell: 

 Southern Science Record (1883), also Nests and Eggs Austn. 

 Birds, pi. 2, fig. 491 (1S83). 



Geograyhiral Distribution. — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria 

 and South Australia; also New Guinea, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulu 

 Islands, Palawan and Philippines. 



Ne.it. — A hollow in the ground, Uned, more or less, with grass, &c., 

 and sheltered by herbage. 



Egyi. — Clutch, four to five, one instance of seven ; round oval in 

 shape ; texture of shell somewhat coad'se ; surface glossy ; colour, dull 

 ycllowisli-green or light-olive, occasionally light-green, thickly freckled 

 with dark olive-green. Dimensions in inches of a clutch ; (1) 1'06 x '76, 

 (2) 1-05 X -8, (3) 1-02 X -76, (4) 1-0 x -77. (Plate 17.) 



Observations. — Tliis beautiful and most interesting little species ranges 

 throughout Eastern Australia, and extends into Austro-Malayan regions, 

 where it was first discovered as long ago as about 1776. The female 

 resembles the little Quail. The male wears a different garb, chiefly 



