12G Mr. R. Swinboe's Ornitholoyicul Notes made at Vhejoo. 



7Q. Red-legged Partridge, Caccabis chukar, Gray. 

 Not uncommon on the surrounding hills, where they reside 

 and breed. 



77. Red-throated Quail. Coturnix japonic a, Bp. 



On the 4th May, while on an excursion into the country, 

 we met birdcatchers with small white cloth bags on their way 

 to town. They were carrying Quails, which they had just 

 been catching. These little creatures were arriving in the 

 country in large numbers ; and many were daily caught and 

 brought to market for sale, both for food and for fighting. 

 The males were distinguished as " the Redthroats,'^ the 

 females as " the Whitethroats." 



I was surprised to find the northern Quail such a good 

 species, and so distinguishable in its spring moult from the 

 ordinary bird. Besides their more brilliant plumage, the 

 males have the space before the eyes, the cheeks, and the 

 throat a fine pinkish rust-colour, browner in old birds, with 

 a more or less strong indication of a central black mark on 

 the throat ; the females have on the sides of the neck two 

 curved lines of closely set black spots, as in the young male of 

 the common species. 



Coturnix vulgaris y«/?omcM5, T. & S., Faun. Japon. Adult 

 male. Length 6" 75. Wing 3*85 ; first and second quills a 

 little shorter than the third and longest ; wing-tip '9 longer 

 than tertiaries, "5 short of tail-tip. Tail I'/S, of twelve soft 

 graduated feathers, curved downwards. Tarse '9, feathered a 

 little in advance of joint; middle toe "9, its claw "2. Iris rich 

 sienna brown. Bill yellowish brown on tip and culmen, hazel 

 on rest of upper mandible, blackish grey on lower. Legs and 

 claws light clayey flesh-colour, more or less yellowish. Before 

 the eye, cheeks, and throat rusty brown ; centre of throat 

 blackish, with a curved line of the same colour on either side 

 of the patch at its base. 



A younger male has the rust-colour less brown, and just 

 an indication only of blackish on the throat. liegs yellower 

 than in the last. 



Dissection of the younger bird. — Trachea narrow and imi- 



