THE QUAILS. I 79 



First primary flight-feather equal in length to the tenth, 

 fifth rather the longest. 



No occipital crest in either sex. 



Bill unusually stout and thick. 



Hind-toe with a rudime?ttary claw. Sexes entirely different 

 in plumage. 



Only one species is known. 



I. THE BLACK WOOD-PARTRIDGE. MELANOPERDIX NIGRA. 



Cryptonyx nige?', Vigors, Zool. Journ. iv. p. 349 (1829) [w<'?A']. 

 C?yptonyx fern/gineus, Vigors, Zool. Journ. iv. p. 349 (1829) 



\^female\. 

 Cryptonyx dussumieri^ Less. Belang. Voy. Ind. p. 275, pi. vii. 



(1834). 

 Melanoperdix nigra, Jerd. B. Ind. iii. p. 580 (1864) ; Ogilvie- 

 Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 228 (1893). 



Adult Male. — Entire plumage uniform glossy black. Total 

 length, 10-5 inches; wing, 5*5; tail, yi\ tarsus, i-8. 



Adult Female. — General colour above chestnut, finely mottled 

 with black, and with bars of the same colour on the scapulars ; 

 throat and belly whitish ; chest dark chestnut ; breast and 

 flanks more rufous, the latter barred and mottled with black. 



Range. — Southern part of the Malay Peninsula from Province 

 Wellesley southwards, Sumatra, and Borneo. 



This species, Mr. C. Hose tells us, is " found in the low 

 country, and does not ascend the mountains " of the Baram 

 district, Sarawak. 



Eggs. — Five in number ; broad ovals in shape, considerably 

 pointed at the smaller end ; white, with the surface slightly 

 rough and chalky. Measurements, 1-65 by 1*3 inch. 



THE QUAILS. GENUS COTURNIX. 

 Coturnix, Bonn. Enc. Meth. Intr. pp. Ixxxvii. 216 (1790). 



Type, C. cotiirnix (Linn.). 

 Tail composed of ten or twelve feathers, short, soft, and 



N 2 



