1921.] Birds of North-East Chihli. 11 



found the bird crouching in a corner of tlie cage as if it 

 waiited to la}^ or incubate. I thereupon put a quantity of 

 dry grass into the cage^ which the Quail took immediate 

 possession of, hollowing out a depression and taking tlie 

 grass and throwing it over its back so as to form a dome to 

 the nest. Next day the Heraipode appeared to have given 

 up the idea of laying, but on the 16th I discovered hidden 

 among the grass a miniature egg, apparently laid the previous 

 day, as that same day at noon I found a second egg, this 

 one about one-third the usual size, also hidden away among ' 

 the grass. None was laid on the 17th, but on the 18th 

 I found a third egg, resembling the second one in size. No 

 others were laid, and the calling became less frequent and 

 intense. I was unfortunately unable to procure a male. 

 The Hemipode, on being shown a skin of one of its own 

 species, became greatly excited, puffed out its feathers, 

 bowed and " kreked " as if pleased. On the 31st of the 

 month, I happened to pick up another female, slightly 

 wounded in the wing, which, when healed, I placed in the 

 cage, together with the other Turnix and two male Coturnix 

 japonica. The Turnix, beyond giving the newcomer a 

 gentle peck now and then during the first day, did not 

 attempt to molest it, and the four birds lived in harmony 

 until the 16th of July, when one of the Japanese Quail, a 

 young bird of the previous year, was found killed (by the 

 other male probably). The new Turnix showed signs of 

 wanting to lay soon after it had been placed with the others, 

 and on the 21st of June I found three eggs laid by it. On 

 the 22nd, 26th, 27th and 28th, four more eggs were found, 

 presumably laid by the same bird. On the 6th of July I 

 found another. All these were very small eggs, much under 

 half size ; but on the 17th, a much larger egg, about half 

 size, was found, and on the 20th and 21st two more minia- 

 ture eggs. On the 23rd of July I had to take the new 

 Turnix out of the cage as it was badly pecked about the 

 head, evidently by the old bird. When the Japanese Quail 

 remained alone with the latter, it made violent love to it 

 and attempted to pair, but without any encouragement from 



