THE QUAILS. I 79 



First primary flight-feather equal in length to the tenth, 

 fifth rather the longest. 



No occipital crest in either sex. 



Bill unusically stoat and thick. 



Hind-toe with a rudimentary claw. Sexes entirely different 

 in plumage. 



Only one species is known. 



I. THE BLACK WOOD-PARTRIDGE. MELANOFERDIX NIGRA. 



Cryptonyx niger, Vigors, Zool. Journ. iv. p. 349 (1S29) [male]. 

 Cryptonyx ferrngineus, Vigors, Zool. Journ. iv. p. 349 (1829) 



[female]. 

 Cryptonyx dussumieri, Less. Belang. Voy. Ind. p. 275, pi. vii. 



(i§34). 

 Mela?ioperdix nigra, Jerd. B. Ind. iii. p. 580 (1864) ; Ogilvie- 

 Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 228 (1893). 



Adult Male.— Entire plumage uniform glossy black. Total 

 length, 10-5 inches; wing, 5-5; tail, y^; tarsus, r8. 



Adult Female. — General colour above chestnut, finely mottled 

 with black, and with bars of the same colour on the scapulars ; 

 throat and belly whitish ; chest dark chestnut ; breast and 

 flanks more rufous, the latter barred and mottled with black. 



Range.— Southern part of the Malay Peninsula from Province 

 Wellesley southwards, Sumatra, and Borneo. 



This species, Mr. C. Ho:e tells us, is " found in the low 

 country, and does not ascend the mountains " of the Baram 

 district, Sarawak. 



Eggs.— Five in number ; broad ovals in shape, considerably 

 pointed at the smaller end; white, with the surface slightly 

 rough and chalky. Measurements, 1-65 by 1*3 inch. 



THE QUAILS. GENUS COTURNIX. 

 Coturnix, Bonn. Enc. Meth. Intr. pp. lxxxvii. 216 (1790). 



Type, C. coturnix (Linn.). 

 Tail composed of ten or twelve feathers, short, soft, and 



n 2 



