228 A MANUAL OF THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
155. Excalfactoria chinensis.—KING QUAIL. 
[Tetrao chinensis Linné, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., Vol. I., p. 277, (pref. May 24th) 1766: China. 
Extra-limital.] 
Gould, Vol. V., pl. 92 (pt. x1.), Sept. Ist, 1843. Mathews, Vol. I., pt. 1, pl. 12, Oct. 31st, 
1910 
Excalfactoria australis Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. II., p. 197, (Dec.) 1865 : ‘‘ Australia ’” 
= Queensland. 
Excalfactoria chinensis victorice Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 179, Jan. 31st, 1912: 
Koo Wee Reep, Victoria. 
Excalfactoria chinensis colletti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 73, June 28th, 
1912: Glencoe, Northern Territory. 
Excalfactoria chinensis cairnse Mathews, 7b.: pt. 4, p. 83, Sept. 18th, 1912: Cairns, 
Queensland. 
Distrreution.—Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South 
Australia, 
Adult male—General colour above black with pale shaft-lines which are broader 
and more pronounced on the lower back and rump ; crown of head black with a 
longitudinal line of white from the middle of the crown to the hind-neck ; feathers 
of the mantle rufous-brown crossed with black, streaked with narrow white shaft- 
lines and margined with lead-grey ; scapulars lead-grey with broken up markings 
of black which are submarginal on some of the longer feathers ; upper tail-coverts 
black with lead-grey margins ; wing-coverts greyish-brown with more or less tracings 
of black bars; primary-coverts and quills pale brown; tail-feathers lead-grey at 
the base and with a marginal notch at tips ; remainder deep chestnut live the under 
tail-coverts and middle of the abdomen; sides of crown, breast and sides of body 
deep slate-colour, some of the feathers bordering the chestnut of the under-surface ; 
a small white line from the base of the bill to the eye, followed by a black line below 
the eye which is continued along the sides of the face and joined to the black of the 
throat; a longitudinal white patch enclosed between the black line below the eye 
and the black of the throat ; a semicircular white collar which commences at the 
back of the ear-coverts and meets on the middle of the throat where it is broader ; 
this white collar is followed by a narrow line of black which separates it from the 
slate colour of the chest and upper-breast; sides of breast more or less barred 
with black ; bill black; iris red ; feet yellow. Total length 130 mm.; culmen 12, 
wing 74, tail 26, tarsus 20. Two apparently adult birds still retain a trace of chestnut 
on the outer margin of the greater wing-coverts. 
Adult female-—General colour above reddish-brown streaked with white shaft- 
lines and black blotches or cross markings ; crown of head black with a white line 
down the middle; sides of crown, sides of face, and lower throat tawny ; wing- 
coverts pale reddish-brown finely barred with black and longitudinal white shaft- 
lines ; primary-coverts and quills pale brown ; outer primary white along the outer 
edge ; under-surface fulvous crossed by narrow black bars broad on the sides of the 
body and flanks, less on the thighs and under tail-coverts. Total length 130 mm. ; 
culmen 12, wing 70, tail 25, tarsus 18. 
Immature.—Closely resembling the adult female. 
Nestling —Sooty-black everywhere except the throat which is buff, and three 
indistinct streaks of the same colour on the top of the head. 
The chicks are able to fly when ten days old, and are practically in adult 
plumage at six weeks. 
Nest.—A hollow in the ground, lined, more or less, with grass, ete., and sheltered 
by herbage. 
Eggs.—Clutch, four ; oval in form, with a glossy surface ; and drab ground- 
colour, minutely freckled with reddish-brown over the entire surface, but more 
thickly at the larger end ; axis 14-15 mm., diameter 17-18. 
