174 AVES RASORES. [PERDIX. 



A native of North America, from whence it has been recently introduced into 

 this country. Is now naturalized in Suffolk. Said to frequent woody situations, 

 and to perch in trees. Lays from twenty to twenty-five eggs, and has two broods 

 in the year. 



(3. COTURNIX, Briss.) 



156. P. Coturnix, Lath. (Common Quail.) Upper 

 parts cinereous brown, variegated with black : over each 

 eye, and on the crown of the head, a longitudinal whitish 

 streak. 



P. Coturnix, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. u. p. 491. Coturnix dacty- 

 lisonans, Temm. Pig- et Gall. torn. in. pp. 478, & 740. Common 

 Quail, Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 437. pi. 62. Quail, Mont. Orn. Diet, 

 and Supp. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 351. 



DIMENS. Entire length eight inches : length of the bill (from the 

 forehead) five lines, (from the gape) seven lines and a half; of the tarsus 

 one inch two lines ; of the tail one inch six lines ; from the carpus to the 

 end of the wing four inches six lines : breadth, wings extended, fourteen 

 inches four lines. 



DESCRIPT. (Male.) Crown and occiput black, the feathers edged with 

 rufous brown; over each eye a yellowish white streak extending to a 

 considerable distance down the neck ; a similar streak along the top of 

 the head running parallel with the above ; throat rufous, bounded by a 

 double crescent of dusky brown : upper part of the neck, back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts, cinereous brown, variegated with black; the shafts 

 and central portions of the feathers yellowish white : lower part of the 

 neck, breast, and, sides, pale rufous brown with longitudinal white 

 streaks ; belly yellowish white : tail blackish brown ; the shafts and tips 

 of the feathers whitish : bill and feet yellowish brown. (Female.) Throat 

 white, without the double crescent-shaped markings: breast yellowish 

 white, spotted with blackish brown : general colours of the plumage 

 paler. Obs. This species is subject to some variation of colours : in very 

 old males, the cheeks and throat are dusky brown, and the whole 

 plumage of a more vivid hue. Occasionally found pure white ; or of a 

 uniform deep brown. (Egg.) Yellowish white, blotched and spotted 

 with umber-brown : long. diam. one inch one line ; trans, diam. eleven 

 lines. 



A migratory species visiting this country in May, and usually depart- 

 ing towards the end of the Autumn. Occasionally remains through the 

 Winter. Chiefly frequents corn-fields and open lands. Feeds on seeds, 

 grain, and insects. The males are polygamous, and utter during the 

 breeding season a peculiar whistling note. Eggs eight or ten in number, 

 deposited on the bare ground. 



GEN. 60. OTIS, Linn. 



157. O. Tarda, Linn. (Great Bustard.) Upper 

 part of the body reddish orange, with transverse black 

 bars ; beneath whitish : a tuft of long filiform feathers 

 (male) from the corners of the lower mandible. 



