Brecilinii of Tar/lc lUirc Iff/hri.'/.s, clc. adO 



Male: AIh.vc sandy - iu'owii , willi tlir shall -tripe |)alo 

 ImlV aii:l v;u-ii'-al('(l with hla'-l< hats a-id iiiarkiii,i^s ; .'liiii and 

 thi'(tat white, with a lilaik mark (anchoi-sliaped) down tiie 

 middle, terminating witii an ann i'a<-ii siih' ciifvins" upwards to 

 the ear-coverts (see i)h()l()); chc-t rudd\-l;uir, with pale shatt- 

 streaks; remainder ot under sui'tacc similar, liut paler and 

 lackiii,!;- liir ruddy tiii,L;c. 'I'otal ii'n,','-|li (i;ins., tail \\. 



Fciiiiilc: Similai- in i^enci'ai I'luma.^v, hut lias no hlack 

 mai'k down tiic throat, and iuis the (diest ratiicr thickly spotted 

 with black. 



There is consideiahle Aariation in coloui'ation, uid uii- 

 doiditedly the s])ecies and local races treiiucntly overlap. 



The ('ommon (^)uail l)rceds not uncommonly in Great 

 Britain, thouyh it is not commonly met with; they aie mostly 

 spring visitors and usually leave in October, but in suitable 

 winters a lew remain with us. It is best known to us by the 

 huge supplies in the season at the various poultry markets, 

 when living birds nuiy be pi'ocured lor about two shillings, 

 or less, per pair. 



Probably because of its cheapness it is not often given 

 suitalile aviary accommodation, l)ut placed in a grassy 

 enclosure it: should certainly prove even more ])rolilit; than 

 the Californian Quail. The most promising aviary for them 

 would be one that had growing grasses, tall and ciwarf, with 

 patches of bare earth at intervals and some low -growing 

 bushes, or tall bushes with branches to the ground, under 

 which the Quail could take cover at will. I did ntj.t lind them 

 so hardy as either the Californian or Chinese Quail. It any of 

 our members have bred this species, I hope they will send 

 in details. 



The nest is merely a hollow in the ground with a few- 

 bents gathered together round the sides; the eggs, 15 to IS in 

 numl)er, are yellowish-white speckled with ruddy-brown. Their 

 food is leaves, grass, seeds and insects, sought principally in 

 the more open areas. 



In captiv-ity they take seed, insectivorous mixture, levy 

 a heavy toll on the growing herbage, and secure wiiat they 

 can when live food is distributed. When they have a brood, 

 live and dried ants' eggs and gentles should be freely sup- 



