THE COROMANDEL QUAIL. 117 



.hough they pair regularly, so soon as the female 

 commences to sit, she is left alone, and the male at- 

 tends no longer, nor afterwards assists in protecting 

 the brood. They delight in cultivated countries, 

 and never frequent woods. They are found in Eu- 

 rope, Asia, Africa, and New Holland. The allied 

 birds of America come under a different section. 



The pretty little species figured will give an ex- 

 act idea of the form of the quails. It is rather less 

 than the European species, being in length only 

 about six inches. The upper parts somewhat resem- 

 ble those of the common bird, but are more broad- 

 ly marked, while the deep black markings on the 

 lower parts at once distinguish it, and are beautifully 

 relieved from the paler parts of the breast and belly. 

 The female differs from the male in wanting the 

 greater part of the black on the lower parts, indica- 

 tions of the two bands on the throat being only seen. 

 The breast is reddish-brown, the feathers with a 

 black centre, and the other lower parts are of a dull 

 white. This quail seems abundant, and is pretty 

 generally distributed over the continent of India. 



Among the quails there are many beautifully mark- 

 ed species, all of diminutive size. We shall only, 

 however, be able to notice that of Europe, an occa- 

 sional visitor to Britain. 



