CoTURNix. BIRDS. GALLINADiE. 45 



the nest in twelve hours, and are conducted to ant-hills, the eggs in whicli 

 constitute their early nourishment. Their plumage is less distinctly marked 

 than the old birds, and the legs are pale coloured. 



5. P. rufa. Guernsey Partridge. — Bill and legs red. Throat 

 and cheeks white, margined with black. 



Will. Orn. 119 Mont. Orn. Diet — Temm. Orn. ii. 485 — Bred in Jersey. 



— Found in Guernsey, and occasionally in the south of England. 

 Length 12^, breadth 22 inches; weight 13 ounces. The plumage above is 

 reddish-brown, breast ash.^coloured, with the belly rufous. Quills 25, brown. 

 Tail of IG feathers, rufous, with the six middle ones tinged with grey. Eggs 

 15 or 18, yellowish, with red spots and cinereous dots — This species is now 

 common in several preserves in England, and may occasionally be found in a 

 wild state, but the islands of the Channel seem to be the most western limits 

 of its natural distribution. 



Gen. IV. COTURNIX. Quail.— Cheeks covered with fea- 

 thers. First quill-feather longest. 



6. C. vulgaris. Common Quail. — Over each eye a yellowish 

 streak, and one of the same colovu' down the forehead. 



Merr. Pin. p. 173 V/ill. Orn. 121 Sihb. Scot. 16 — Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 



27c Temm. Orn. ii. 491. W, Sofliar — In wheat-fields. 



Length 71, breadth 14 inches. The plmnage is a mixture of black, brown, 

 till ash. A dark line passes from each angle of the bill, forming a kind of 

 gorget above the breast; and the middle of the chin is black. Quills dusky, 

 the outer webs mottled with white. Tail of 12 feathers, dusky, tipt with white. 

 The female differs, in wanting the black spot on the chin. Eggs 8 or 10, or 

 even 20, yellowish, with dusky spots — This species is a summer visitant, ar- 

 riving in the beginning of IMay, and departing in October. A few occasionally 

 remain. 



Although these may be considered as the gallinaceous birds indigenous to 

 the British Isles, there are several other species which here require to be 

 noticed. 



a. DOMESTICATED GALLIXAD.E. 



1. Pavo cristatus. Crested Peacock. 



This bird, so truly ornamental, from the splendour of its plumage, and the 

 magnificence of its train, is of Asiatic origin. The pei'iod of its introduction 

 into this country is unknown, though probably not vei'y remote. 



2. Aleleagris Gallopavo. Turkey. 



This bird is a native of America. It was first imported into England in 

 1524. Multitudes ai-e reared in Norfolk and Suffolk for the London market, 

 to which they are driven in flocks, consisting of several hundreds. Where 

 they are reared for sale, the cock is kept but a short time with the hens Avhen 

 they begin to lay., his presence, afterwards, during the period of the exclusion 

 of the eggs, being unnecessary to render them prolific ; Edin. Phil. Journ. 

 V. 356. The same economy may be practised with the common hen. Will. 

 Orn. 11. The turkev, in a wild state, is larger than with us, sometimes ex- 

 eeeding 30 pounds. >ett. Phil. Trans. 1781, p. 67. 



