734 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Ee/ffs. — Clutch, four ; inclined to pyriform, or roundish in sliape 

 shai-ply compressed at one end ; texture of shell fine ; surface almost 

 without gloss ; colour, yellowish-white, thickly spotted and blotched 

 with rich brown or chestnut, pui-plish-brown, and slate. Dimensions 

 in inches of odd examples: (1) -99 x -76, (2) -93 x -76, (3) -91 x -72. 



Observations. — Little is known of the Red-chested Quail, except 

 that its range is across the Continent from north to south. There is 

 a record that Dr. Ramsay found a nest at Manar, New South Wales, 

 dui-ing 1864. 



Its manner of nidification doubtless resembles that of the Little 

 Quail. 



From a note made by Mr. Hermann Lau while on the Darling 

 Downs, it appeal's that this species of " Yellow Quail," as it is locally 

 called, is not very plentiful, only appearing here and there in pairs. 

 At WaiToo station, during the mowing of some lucerne, a nost con- 

 taining four eggs was discovered. The eggs were slightly incubated. 

 Date, September, 1873. 



571.— TuRNix VELOX. Gould.— (483) 

 LITTLE QUAIL. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 87. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxii., p. 553. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1848) , 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 185 (1865); North: Austn. Mus. 

 Cat., p. 286 (1S89), also Trans. Roy. See, South Australia, 

 vol. xxii., p. 159 (1898). 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general. 



Nest. — A slight depression in the ground, scantily lined with grasses, 

 usually protected by a grass tuft or sheltered in a grain crop. 



Eggs. — Clutch, four; round oval in shape; textm-e of shell fine but 

 firm ; surface sUghtly glossy ; colour, dirty or yellowish-whit 0, thickly 

 spotted and blotched with imiber, chestnut, and purplish-brown. Other 

 examples are finer marked and lighter coloured. Dimensions in inches 

 of a pair: (1) -98 x -72, (2) -95 x -73 ; of a proper clutch: (1) -96 x -7, 

 (2) -94 X -72, (3) -92 x -7, (4) -89 x -72. (Plate 18.) 



Observations. — The Little Quail is somewhat chubby, with a stout, 

 (lark, horn-coloured bill. Upper surface in general is chestnut-red, 

 pencilled vrith black and yellowish-white. There is a buify wash on the 

 throat, chest, and flanks, pas.sing into white on the abdomen. The eyes 

 and legs are yellowish. Total longlli, 5?, inches; wing. 3 inches; bill, 

 J inch; tarsus, J inch. 



