44 PHASIANIDJ5. 



Genus MELANOPERDIX, Jerdon. 



Melanoperdix nigra ( Vigors). 

 (Plate III. fig. 2.) 



Melanoperdix nigra, Everett, List Birds Born. p. 199 (1889) ; Hose, Ibis, 

 1893, p. 423 ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 228 (1893) ; Shai-^je, 

 Hand-l. i. p. 30 (1899). 



One of the eggs of the Black Wood-Partridge in the Collection is 

 in fragments. The other is a very broad oval with one end much 

 compressed and pointed. It is plain white and measures 1"6 

 by 1-25. 



2. Baram, Sarawak, Borneo, Sept. A. H. Everett, Esq. [P.]. 



Genus COTURNIX, Bonn. 



The eggs of the True Quails are of a pointed oval shape. They 

 are all handsomely marked, but the amount of gloss is very 

 variable. 



Coturnix coturnix {Linn.). 



Perdix cotiu-nix, Thien. Fortpjianz. (jes. Yog. p. 34, tab. viii. fig. 1 a, h, 



fig. 2 a, 6 (1845-54). 

 •Coturnix communis, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Tof/. tab. 21. fig. 6 (1855-63) ; 



Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 224 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. vii. p. 143 (1878) ; 



Hmne ^- Marsh. Game Birds Ind. ii. p. 13.'! (1879) ; Seebohm, Brit. 



Birds, ii. p. 462, pi. 20 (1884) ; Oates ed. Hume, Nests ^- Eijys Ind. 



B. iii. p. 443 (1890) ; Seebohm, Eyys of Brit. Birds, p. 277, pi. 59. 



figs. 1, 3 (189G). 

 Coturnix vulgaris, Heicitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 284, pi. Ixxii. 



(1856). 

 Tumix coturuix, Salvin, Ibis, 1859, p. 353. 

 Coturnix coturnix, Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 231 (1893) ; Oates, 



Game Birds Ind. i. p. 80 (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 31 (1899). 



The eggs of the Common Quail are of various shades of 

 creamy white, yellowish buff, buff and greenish yellow, marked 

 with deep olive-brown, reddish brown, and blackish brown. In 

 some the markings consist of small specks and irregularly-shaped 

 spots, with a few small blotches. In others the markings are 

 mostly blotches of considerable size, frequently confluent, and 

 covering quite half the surface of the shell. Numerous specimens 

 measure from !•! to 1"2 in length, and from -SS to -95 in breadth. 



