374 CRYPTURI. — STRUTHIONirORMES, 



(Cassin, Exp. Am. Squad. China Seas and Japan, ii. p. 227), whence 

 there are several examples in the Swiuhoe eollection obtained by 

 Captain Blakiston (Swinhoc, Ibis, 1875, p. -152). There are seven 

 examples in the Pryer collection from Yokoliama. It breeds on 

 all the main islands of Japan, and a few remain during winter in 

 Yezzo (Blakiston and Pryer, Ibis, 1878, p. 22G). 



The Common Quail is subject to some climatic variation. Tropical 

 forms resident in South Africa and China are on an average slightly 

 smaller than forms from more temperate regions. They also differ 

 in the colour of the throat of the male in summer plumage, that of 

 examples from China being chestnut-buff, and from South Africa 

 rusty buff. The two forms completely intergrade, and both occur 

 in Japan — the pale-throated form, it is said, as a winter visitor from 

 Siberia, and the rufous-throated form as a resident. If the latter be 

 regarded as subspecifically distinct, it may bear the name of Coturnix 

 communis japonica, and its range may be given as Eastern Siberia, 

 Japan, and North China. On the other hand, it is said that the 

 rufous-throated form frequently occurs in South Europe, and that 

 the Quails of India and South China belong to the pale-throated or 

 typical race. 



Suborder XXXII. CRYPTURI. 



Keel of sternum well developed ; the cartilage which connects the 

 ilium with the ischium behind the acetabulum not ossified. 



There are about 50 species of Tiuamous, which are confined to the 

 Neotropical Ilegion. 



Subclass STRUTHIONIFORMES. 



In the Struthioniformes the keel of the sternum has become obso- 

 lete ; the basiptcrygoid processes are very large, and placed on the 

 basisphcnoid rather than on its rostrum ; the oil-gland is absent ; 

 and there are no lateral bare tracts on the neck. 



The subclass Struthioniformes contains two orders. 



