PERDICID.E — PERDICIX.T: : PA R TR ID G ES A ND Q L'A IL S. 



lOl 



species, witli one or more spurs, as C- ocitlea, the Eyed Partridge of the ^ralay Peninsula. Sev- 

 eral other genera have 12 tail-feathers, as follows : The Koulroul of the Malay countries, etc., 

 Bollulus roulroul, is a curiously crested bird, with a rudimentary hallucal claw. Melanoperdix 

 nigra oi the same countries is in like state, but uncrested. Hcematorti/x sanguinicejh'i of B(>rneo 

 has 3 pairs of spurs in the ^. Rhizothera longirostris is the oriental Lonir-billed Partridge, 

 with spurs in both sexes. The Indian genus Perdiciila includes two species of very small Par- 

 tridges or Quails, P. asiatica and P. argoondnh, with 12 rectrices as in the foregoing, ami blunt 

 spurs in the J. Ammoperdix is a genus related to Caccahis, but with only 12 rectrices, and in- 

 cludes two species of desert Quails, A. bonhami and A. heyi; the latter inhabits the region of the 

 Ked Sea, the Dead Sea, etc., and might be the one which furnished what basis could be found for 

 the myth of the miraculous feeding of the Israelites. Mdrgaroperdic vmdagascariensis is simi- 

 larly related to Perdix proper, but with only 12 tail-feathers. In Microperdix the tail is 10- 

 featliered; there are 3 Indian species, M. erythrorhyncha, M. bleivitti, and 31. vianijmrensis, in 

 wliich spurs are represented by blunt tubercles in tlie ,^; they are very small Quails, only (3 or 

 7 inches long. In Cotuniix itself there are indifferently 10 or 12 feathers, and no spurs; and 

 this is represented in Australia and Papua by a few closely related species in which 10 rectrices 

 are the rule, though 12 sometimes occur. Finally, in the curious little Quail of the genus 

 Exccdfactoria, there are only 8 very short soft feathers, hidden by their coverts; such are the 

 Chinese Quail, E. c}iinensii^, and the African E. adansoni, only about 5 inches long. Such 

 forms as these brine us around again to the genus Ophnjsia, mentioned above under the head 

 of tlie family Perdicidce. 



C'OTUK'NIX. (Lat. coturnix, a quail; from its note.) Bill smaller and much slenderer 

 tlian that of any American genera of Odonto})horince ; nasal fossa; feathered, e.Kcept on the 

 tumid nasal scale. Wings of moderate leiiglii, little vaulted and not rounded, pointed by the 

 lst-3d quills, the 1st scarcely or not shorter than the next. First primary emarginate on inner 

 web ; 2d and 3d sinuate on outer web. Tail of 10-12 feathers extremely short and slight, not 

 half as long as wing, pointed, its feathers very soft, tlie central pair lanceolate. Feet small: 

 tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw, jOf--^^.^ ?^~% jra' j (V^V 



slightly feathered above in front, with 

 two rows of alternating large scutella 

 in front, two rows of smaller rounded 

 scales meeting in a ridge behind, the 

 sides filled in with small plates. Size 

 snuiller than that of any of our native 

 s|iecies ; pattern of coloration some- 

 what as in Colinus ; sexes nearly alike. 

 There are several species, besides the 

 one given below, as C. japonica, wide 

 ranging in Asia ; C. caj}ensis of South 

 Africa; C- coromanddica of India, etc. ; 

 C delegorgiici of Africa; C. j)ector(dis 

 of Australia; and C. novtc-ZefdandifC. 

 ('. cotiir'iiix. (Fig. 50.5.) Mk.SSIX.V 

 (^»I AH.. .MiGUATOKV QUAIL. CoM- 



MDN Quail of Europ<\ Adult ^ ^ : 

 Upjicr parts variegated with buff or 

 whitish and black upon a mixed red- 

 dish-brown and gray ground, the most conspicuous markings being sharp lance-linear length- 

 wise stripes of biitf or wliitisli over UK.st of the upper parts, these dashes mostly edgeil with 

 black: otinr less promimnt huff or whitish cross-bars, scvrral to a feather, likewise tVon.-.l 



Fio. 005. — Common Quail of Europe, ) nnt. niie (From Drebiu. ) 



