THE QUAILS 



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hairy feathers, and the rest of the head and neck black with a white band between 

 the eyes, the wings being maroon glossed with purplish blue, the remainder of the 

 upper parts rich green with steely-blue reflections, the under parts black glossed 

 with blue, and the base of the bill, naked skin round the eye, as well as the legs 

 and feet, scarlet. In the female the head is blackish gray, the wings chestnut, and 

 the rest of the plumage bright grass green, shading into grayish green on the under 

 parts. This green color is an unusual tint among game birds, found elsewhere only 

 in the males of the blood pheasants. These birds ramble about the hillsides, at an 



RED-CRESTED WOOD PARTRIDGES. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



elevation of about three thousand to four thousand feet, in bevies or parties of six 

 or eight to a dozen, and are exceedingly swift of foot, never leaving the jungle, and 

 rarely taking wing. Their note is a soft, mellow whistle, chiefly heard in the 

 morning, or when they have been separated. Their nearest ally is the black wood 

 partridge (Melanoperdix niger} , ranging over much the same area, but not found in 

 Java. The male has the whole plumage glossy black, while that of the female is 

 mostly chestnut, the scapulars barred with black, and the upper parts, sides, flanks, 

 and under tail coverts mottled with the same color. 



The most advanced form of the partridge type of wing is found in 

 the quails, as well as in the snow partridges; all of which have the 

 first flight feather but little shorter than the second, and equal to the third, while 

 the tenth is much the shortest. Accordingly, when the wing is expanded the 



Quails 



