FERDICID.. 



PERDICIH.K. 



- 



of UM natural mitt, la UU Bird* of Europe,' .ays, " lu the bird before 

 a* w traoe, or fancy we oan traoe, one of tboM uuiont through 

 wbioh UM tpUndjd-ooloured PbtatanU of the Bait are united to the 

 ober-oaloured Quail* tod Partridge* of the European continent, its 

 fcrm and babita connecting it with the latter, while its colouring 

 nriniftrU a rtUUonabip to the beautiful Oriental genui Trayopan. 

 The Mar reUtioaahip which we fancy cxUU between tbe genera 

 Pmnnlimiu and Troyopa* concUU in their general style of colouring, 

 in their abort apart, and in the conformation of the beak. Another 

 tction of the geout fnuieoliiitu, peculiar to Africa, exhibits alao a 

 form differing from these in tbe structure of tbe beak, in which parti- 

 cular, at well as in the utr* to which it it applied in obtaining food, 

 it assimilate* to the oriental genus 7x>pAopAoru ; still between these 

 group* we may yet expect to find others, harmonising with each so aa 

 to form a complete concatenation." 



Thi* Francolin haunt* humid place*, perches on trees, and feeds, 

 like tbe common partridge* (which, as Mr. Gould observes, it resembles 

 in the form of the bill), on insects, seeds, Ac., but not on bulbs, like 

 other* of the genna. M. Temminck, in the fourth part of his 

 4 Manuel,' mention* myrtleberrie* and the tender top* of herbs ns 

 forming part of ita food. Nothing particular seems to be known 

 about ita nest, Ac. 



Thi* (peciet it widely distributed. In Europe its habitat appear* 

 to be exclusively confined to the southern regions, as Sicily, Mnlta, 

 and the Neapolitan territories, but it is also found in the north of 

 Africa, and over the greater portion of the Asiatic continent, and in 

 the Himalaya Mountain* 



F. Pmtictritnttu, Perdix Pontictriana of Latham, Ferruginous and 

 Qrar Francolin, appear* to be confined to Asia. 



This species, according to Colonel Syken, is the Teetur of the 

 Mahrattaa, and is called a partridge in the Dukhun (Deccan), where 

 it i* tbe moat common of birds, frequenting gardens and cultivated 

 land*. The Colonel describe* the iridea as intense red-brown, and its 

 length, inclusive of the tail (which is 3 inches 6-10ths) as 14 inches. He 

 state* that it is not met with in the Ghaute, unless in well cultivated 

 valleys, and not at all on the mountains. It roosts on trees, in which 

 situation the Colonel, on more than one occasion, shot them during 

 the day-time ; but this was a rare occurrence. (' Zool. Proc.,' 1832.) 



OrJ Krani, ,/, rnlirrr<ai,u,), 



Another Francolin, FrancoUntu tpadieau, measuring with the tail 

 (which u 5 inches) 14 inches MOlhs, i* very common in the thick 

 brnahwood of tbe Ghaut*. Colonel Sykes bad both sexes alive in his 

 poawMNoo for some time, and ha* no doubt that they might be uc- 

 ^^Uy^tn^u^toto Europe. He describes thorn a, excellent 



harsh triayUabio call, Kok-kut-ree, whence the ilahrattan name 

 *** J"" ***** to confinement uttered little notes, like the 

 ring of a chicken. A male in Colonel Sykes's collection had 

 targe sport on one leg and two on the other. (' Zool. Proa,' 1832.) 

 P. pifca/w (Andrew Smith) 1* an African specie*; 

 TlMWiMdition under the direction of Dr. Andrew Smith saw the 

 u. of thw handsome Francolin on the banks of the 

 liver, which flows in a north-earterly direction from 

 It showed," say. Dr. Smith, "but little disposition to 

 the J"gKh when disturbed in more open localities, 

 which it by cboic, frtqnent* while feeding, it, like /'ranJxrffnw Koto- 

 . * k* concetJment in the bosom of the thickets, Karly in the 

 i were observed in moderate abundance upon the 



open grassy plots which occurred intersecting the wooded regions that 

 skirted both sides of the stream, and there they appeared to find their 

 food in plenty, which was found to consist of small bulbous roots, 

 teed*, insects, Ac. To the same localities these birds were alto 

 observed to resort towards evening ; but at that period they were less 

 readily discovered, owing to their being commonly more silent at that 

 time. During tbe middle of the day they were rarely observed, and 

 from what was ascertained there were grounds for believing they 

 repose while the sun is warm, and that while enjoying rest they are 

 generally perched upon dwarf trees or shrubs, no doubt to be the 

 more secure from tbe teeth of the numerous predatory quadrupeds 

 which are constantly traversing the woods in quest of prey." 





t'raiicoliuiu pilealut. (Smith.) 



F. Sicainionii of the same author, with its naked throat, wrinkled 

 space round the eye, and more sombre plumage, seems to be n step 

 towards some other rasorial forms, and to differ so much from its 

 congeners aa almost, if not quite, to justify separation. 



Cotumix (Brisson). The species of this genus are vernacularly 

 known as Quails. 



The bill is naked at the base, Blender, convex above, curved tow.-ml 

 the end ; no red eye-brow. Tarsus spur-less. Tail short Wing .. 

 rounded. First quill of equal length with the rest. 



They are found in the Old World and Australia only. 



C. dactylitma.ru, Mayer (Tetrao Cotwnix, Linn.: Perdix Col amu- 

 Latham). 



This well known bird, a description of which would be superfluous, 

 teems to be the 'Oprvt of Aristotle, who mentions the bird repeatedly 

 in such terms as to its habits and migration as to leave little or no 

 doubt on the point; and the Coturnix of the Romans. It is tho 

 Quaglia of the Italians ; Caille of the French ; Wachtel of the Germans 

 Sofliar and Rhine of the Welsh; and Quail of the English; Lohah 

 and Lowa of the Mahrattas. 



Geographical Distribution. The Quail is very widely distributed. 



No_ individual of the Gallinaceous order," says Mr. Gould, " enjoys 

 so wMe a range in the Old World as the common quail ; it is abundant 

 in North Africa, tnost parts of India, and if we mistake not China; 

 while the whole of the southern portions of Siberia, and every country 

 in Europe except those approximating to the polar circle, are visited 

 by it annually, or adopted for a permanent abode. A considerable 

 number are stationary in the southern portions of Europe, such OB 

 Italy, Spain, and Portugal, but their numbers are greatly increased 

 in the spring by an accession of visitors which emigrate from the 

 parched plains of Africa in search of more abundant supplies of food 

 and a congenial breeding-place. So vast and countless are the flocks 

 which often pass over to the islands and European shores of the 

 Mediterranean, that a mode of wholesale slaughter is usually put in 

 practice against them, a circumstance which no doubt tends to limit 

 thoir inordinate increase." 



In this country the bird is not very abundant; and the supply for 

 the London market comes principally from France. It arrives here 

 in spring, generally early in May, and departs in October. The males 

 come first, betray themselves by their thrice repeated whistle, and are 



