RASOllES. 197 



Genus EXCALFATORIA, Bonaparte. 



Three or four species of this well-defined genus inhabit 

 India, China, the Indian Islands?, and Australia ; while others, 

 equally typical, are found in Africa. They are among the 

 most diminutive of the Gallinacecs, if not the least of any of 

 that extensive group of birds. 



Sp. 491. EXCALFATORIA AUSTRALIS, Gould. 

 Least Swamp-Quail. 



Synoicus? chinensis, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. v. pi. 92. 



In separating this species from the old Perdix chinensis 

 of authors, I have no desire to add my own name to the end 

 of a specific term ; but I find there are several species of 

 this form, and not one only, as was formerly supposed. 

 The Australian bird is altogether smaller than the Indian 

 specimens with which I have compared it, has a somewhat 

 more delicate bill, shorter tarsi, a much darker upper sur- 

 face, and the black blotches on the back much more con- 

 spicuous. 



This is one of the species of Australian birds I have 

 not personally seen in a state of nature, which is the more 

 singular as I have received skins from nearly every loca- 

 lity. I have ascertained, however, that at some seasons it 

 is very numerous in such low and humid districts as are 

 clothed with dense and luxuriant grasses and other vege- 

 table productions j but, beyond this, nothing is known of its 

 history. 



The male has the crown of the head and upper surface 

 brown, irregularly blotched with black, some of the feathers 

 with a narrow stripe of buff down the centre ; wings brown, 

 the coverts broadly margined with brown ; sides of the head, 

 breast, and flanks fine blue grey ; throat black ; within the 



