192 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



brown ; abdomen white, each feather marked down its centre 

 with black ; flanks rich brown, the centre of each feather white, 

 bounded on either side by a fine Une of black ; bill black ; 

 irides hazel ; feet pearly vinous white. 



Total length 6 J inches ; bill ^ ; wing 3| ; tarsi -f . 



The female differs in being destitute of the black marks on 

 the chest, in the throat being white instead of buff, and in the 

 bill being olive instead of black. 



Genus SYNOlCUS, Gould. 



The similarity in the habits and economy of these birds 

 to those of the true Partridges, particularly of our well-known 

 species the Perdix cinerea, allies them more nearly to that 

 genus than to the true Quails {Coturnix). 



The various species move about in small coveys, and when 

 flushed fly but a short distance before they again alight. As 

 an article of food they are all that can be wished. 



Every part of Australia, from Port Essington to Tasmania, 

 is inhabited by one or other member of the genus. The 

 species are extremely difficult to distinguish from each other, 

 and all of them may not yet have been described. 



I may remark that these birds assume an infinite variety of 

 markings ; but whether these markings are subject to any 

 law I know not. It would be desirable to ascertain if the fully 

 adult mated sexes are alike in colour, or if the female be 

 darker or lighter than the male, and if those with strongly- 

 marked bars of black on the upper surface be birds of the 

 year. 



The markings of the eggs of the various species differ as 

 much as those of the plumage, some being of a uniform 

 creamy-white, while others are thickly dotted all over with 

 minute specks of brown. 



