Quails.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



repair to the strand, take their departure at six or 

 seven in the evening, and have finished a jour- 

 ney of fifty leajues by break of day." Nets are 

 spread on the opposite shore, and persons are 

 assembled to capture the birds exhausted by their 

 fliglit. The migrrations of the quail have in fact 

 been noticed by the ancients, from Aristotle to 

 Pliny ; and the latter asserts that, blown by adverse 

 winds out of their course, whole flocks are often 

 swept into tlie sea, and that sometimes they settle 

 on vessels in such numbers as to cause their siiikina;. 

 " Advolant .... non sine periculo navigantium cum 

 appropinquavere terris, quippe velis saepe insident, 

 et semper noctu, mergunlque navigia." (Plin. ' Hist. 

 Nat.' lib. X.) Ilasselquist states that in Egypt 

 amazing flocks of these birds arrive in the month 

 of March, when the wheat ripens there, and are 

 caught in thousands by means of nets. 



The flesh of the quail is very delicate. Our 

 London markets are supplied .principally from 

 France, and thousands are there captured by means 

 of a quail-pipe which imitates their call ; but, as 

 M'r. Selby observes, "by this device males only are 

 taken, which may account for the few female speci- 

 mens found amongst the many hundreds kept in 

 confinement by the London poulterers." We may 

 add that the males precede the arrival of the females 

 by a few days. 



According to Pliny, the Romans entertained a 

 prejudice against the flesh of these birds, in conse- 

 quence of their feeding on the grains of the helle- 

 bore, and their being subject to epilepsy. Other 

 nations, however, do not seem to have partaken of 

 this prejudice. The quail is polygamous ; the 

 nest consists merely of a few dried stalks in 

 some convenient receptacle on the ground, gene- 

 rally in a field of wheat ; the eegs are from twelve 

 to eighteen in number, of a light greenish hue, 

 blotched with brown. The pugnacious habits 

 of the quail are well known : " As quarrelsome as 

 quails in a cage," was an ancient saying. The males 

 fight with the spirit and resolution of game-cocks; 

 lience the Greeks and Romans kept them for the 

 purpose of fighting, and the same practice prevails 

 in China and India at the present day. 



The colours of the quail are very pleasing, being 

 a mixture of black, chestnut, yellow, and white ; the 

 markings vary in intensity, but the males are always 

 characterized by a black border round the throat, 

 v.hich is wanting in the female. Length seven 

 inches and a half. 



177L— The Rock-Qu.\il 

 (Coturnix Aigoondah). This species, described by 

 Colonel Sykes, is a native of the Dukhun. It feeds 

 principally upon grass seeds, which were exclusively 

 found in the stomachs of the birds Colonel Sykes 

 obtained. He states that they do not frequent cul- 

 tivated lands, but aie found all over the Dukhun on 

 the general level of the country, amidst rocks and 

 low bushes, and that they rise in coveys of from ten 

 to twenty or more, from under the feet, with start- 

 ling suddenness and bustle, so that the young sports- 

 man is perplexed in selecting his bird. They are 

 gregarious, and probably polygamous ; Colonel Sykes 

 never saw them solitary or in pairs. The flesh is 

 white. This species is used by the natives for quail- 

 fights. General colour above rufous brown with 

 narrow ferruginous bars ; under parts dirty white 

 with black bars ; forehead ferruginous; a stripe over 

 the eye reddiah white. Length six inches and a 

 half. 



1772.— The Viroini.\n Quail 

 (0;Vyr Virginiann). The genus Ortyx, character- 

 ized by a peculiarly short, high, thick bill, is the 

 American representative of the genus Coturnix of 

 the Old World. „ , , 



According to Wilson, the Virginian or Maryland 

 quail is a general inhabitant of North America, 

 from the northern parts of Canada to the extremity 

 of Florida; and is numerous in Kentucky and Ohio. 

 It frequents the vicinity of cultivated lands where 

 grain is in plentv ; and though the coveys sometimes 

 take shelter in 'woods or among brushes, they are 

 most usually found in the open lields or along 

 fences of biiars. Where not much persecuted by 

 sportsmen, they become almost half domesticated, 

 and in winter approach the farm-yard, mixing with 

 the poultry, and there gleaning their subsistence. 

 It would appear, indeed, that with little trouble this 

 species might be domesticated. The Virginian 

 quail beirius to build early in May, making a thick 

 nest of leaves and dried grass, under a lull of grass 

 that shelters and conceals it ; it is domed, and has a 

 lateral entrance. The eggs are from ten to eighteen, 

 and of a p\ire white ; llie male at times assists in 

 hatching them. The young run about as soon as 

 liberated, and follow their parents until spring. 

 These birds roost at night in the middle of a field 

 on the glass, the covey forming a circle, with their 

 heads outwards ; an arrangement which enables 

 them both to prevent surprise, and to take wing and 

 scatter asunder when alarmed. 

 Vol. II. 



The usual cry of this bird is a clear whistle, but 

 the call of the male in the pairing season consists 

 of three distinct notes, sounding like the words " Ah, 

 Bob White;' the first note a kind of aspiration, the 

 two last loud and clear. In the middle of April the 

 male may he seen perched on a fence-stake or some 

 low branch, uttering his call for hours : should he 

 hear the note of a female, he sails directly towards 

 the spot whence it proceeded ; but it often happens 

 that the call of a rival at a little distance sounds 

 a challenge — hence obstinate combats often take 

 place. 



The gun, the net, various traps and devices thin 

 the numbers of the Virginian quail or partridge, its 

 flesh being held in high estimation ; it is also kept 

 in coops or cages, and soon becomes very fat. Its 

 ordinary food consists of grain and berries, but it 

 feeds on ants and various insects. .'According to 

 Audubon, flocks of this species in October perform 

 occasional migrations from the north-west to the 

 south-east, somewhat in the manner of the wild 

 turkey. 



This species has the bill black ; line over the eye, 

 down the neck, and whole chin pure white, bounded 

 by a descending band of black, which spreads 

 broadly over the throat; eye dark hazel; crown, 

 neck, and upper part of the breast red brown; sides 

 of the neck spotted with white and black on a red- 

 dish brown ground ; back, scapulars, and lesser co- 

 verts red brown, intermixed with ash and sprinkled 

 with black ; tertials edged with yellowish white ; 

 wings plain dusky ; lower part of the breast and 

 belly pale yellowish white, beautifully marked with 

 numerous curving spots or arrow-heads of black ; 

 tail ash, sprinkled with reddish brown; legs very 

 pale ash. Length nine inches; extent fourteen 

 (male). The female differs in having the chin and 

 sides of the head yellowish brown. (Wilson.) 



1773. — The Californian Partridge 



{Ortyx Cahfornica). Lophortyx Californica, Bona- 

 parte. 



This beautiful species is common in the low woods 

 and plains of California, where it was discovered by 

 the unfortunate La Perouse, and, according to the 

 editor of his voyage, was found in flocks of two or 

 three hundred; the birds were fat and well fla- 

 voured. Several living specimens were procured 

 by Captain Heechey, with a view of being brought 

 to England, where it was hoped the species might 

 be naturalized, but unfortunately the plan was de- 

 feated by the death of the females on the passage. 

 The males were presented to the Zoological Society, 

 and one of them lived for a considerable time (1833). 

 For some observations on the genus Ortyx by Mr. 

 Vigors, and descriptions of several species, see 

 'Zool. Proceeds.' 1830, p. 3. 



Specimens of the Californian partridge or quail 

 had, however, been previously brought to England 

 by Mr. A. Menzies, who accompanied Vancouver in 

 his expedition round the world, and were described 

 by Shaw and Latham. 



In manners these birds closely resemble the par- 

 tridge or quail, but hold themselves more erect ; 

 the graceful crest on the head adding much to their 

 appearance. The general plumage is of a dusky 

 slate colour ; the crest, which is bent forwards, is 

 black, as is also the throat, encircled by a belt of 

 white. The feathers at the back of the neck are 

 small and triangular, of a slaty hue, with a narrow 

 black margin and white tip. The leathers of the 

 sides and under surface are of a dull reddish white 

 margined with crescents of black. The female has 

 but little crest, and the general tone of colouring is 

 browner and more obscure. The figure is stout; 

 length about nine inches. 



1774.— The Taigoor Qiiaii, 



(Hemipoflius Taiqoor, Sykes). The genus Hemi- 

 podius (Turnix, lion. ; Tridactylus, Lacep. ; Ortygis, 

 111.) has the bill moderate, slender, straight, much 

 compressed, and curved at the point ; the tarsi are 

 moderate ; the hind toe is wanting. The tail shoit 

 and composed of weak feathers ; wings moderate. 

 Geographical distribution, Europe, Asia, Africa, 

 Australia. The Taigoor quail was met with by 

 Colonel Sykes in the Dukhun, and closely resembles 

 the female of the H. pugnax, but is a truly distinct 

 species: of its habits nothing definitely is stated, 

 most probably they resemble those of the H. pugnax, 

 or Bustard-quail, respecting which Colonel Sykes 

 savs that it lives solitary or in pairs, and is mostly 

 foiind in Chillee-fields (Capsicum annuum). The 

 colouring of the Taigoor quail is as follows:— plu- 

 mage above chestnut, the feathers margined with 

 straw yellow, and barred with black ; quills brown ; 

 throat white ; breast barred black and white ; under 

 parts pale ferruginous. Length nearly seven inches. 



177,^.— The Kurrichane Quail 

 (Hemipndhts Lepurana, Smith). This species is a na- 

 tive of South Africa, where it was discovered by Dr. 

 A Smith, who states that few specimens only were 



obtained, and these not until the expedition had 

 reached the country north of Latakoo. '• The gras.sy 

 valleys south-east of Kurrichane were the only lo- 

 calities in which they were discovered, and even 

 there they appeared to be but thinly scattered, for 

 more than a single individual was seldom found in 

 or even near the same place. When the birds were 

 disturbed, they seldom flew far before they alighted, 

 upon which they continued their retreat, since none 

 of those flushed a second time were ever found near 

 the spots where they had been marked down." The 

 food consists of seeds and small insects, with which 

 a considerable quantity of fine gravel is swallowed. 

 The general colour is mingled rufous and chestnut, 

 variegated, spotted and barred with dark brown, 

 black, and white. For long detailed descriptions, 

 see Dr. A. Smith's 'Zool. of South Africa.' 



1776. — The Ferruginous and Grey Francolin- 

 {Fraucoliitus Ponticerianm)i In the genus Fran- 

 colinus the bill is stout, of moderate size, convex 

 above ; the feet are naked and four-toed, and the 

 tarsi of the male are armed with strong blunt spurs. 

 The species are spread through Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa. They inhabit the forests, perch on trees, 

 feed on berries, seeds, the tender tops of herbs, and 

 also on bulbous roots. One species (Franco!inu.s 

 vulgaris) inhabits the southern parts of Europe, the 

 north of Africa, and a great portion of the Asiatic 

 continent, as Persia, Bengal, and the Himalaya 

 Mountains. 



The Francolinus Ponticerianus is a native of 

 India, and called Teetur by the Maihattas. In the 

 Dukhun, according to Colonel Sykes, it is one of the 

 most common birds, and is called partridge : it fre- 

 quents gardens and cultivated lands. In the Ghauts 

 it is not met with, unless in «ell cultivated valleys, 

 and not at all on the mountains. It roosts on trees ; 

 and Colonel Sykes has on more than one occasion 

 shot these birds on trees during the daytime — but 

 this is a rare occurrence. Length fouileen inches. 

 (' Proceeds. Zool. Soc' 1832, p. 1.54.) 



1777. — The Pileated Francolin 



{Francolinus pileatus). This fine bird, which mea- 

 sures thirteen inches and a half in length, was dis- 

 covered by Dr. A. Smith during his late expedition 

 into the interior of South Africa, and was first seen 

 on the banks of the Marikwa river, which flows in 

 a south-easterly direction from Kurrichane. "It 

 showed," says Dr. Smith, " but little disposition to 

 resort to the jungle, though when disturbed in more 

 open localities, which it by choice frequents while 

 feeding, it, like Francolinus Natalensis, seeks con- 

 cealment in the bosom of the thickets. Early in 

 the morning specimens were observed in moderate 

 abundance upon the open grassy plots which oc- 

 curred 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, seeds, insects, &c. 

 To the same localities these birds were also 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 the 

 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 the teeth of the numerous pre- 

 datory quadrupeds which are constantly traversing 

 the woods in quest of prey." (See ' Illust. of Zool. 

 of South Africa.') 



Fig. 1778 represents three species of Francolin, 

 from'North Africa, Abyssinia, &'c., and the Bnrbaiy 

 Partridge : o, Clapperton's Francolin (Francolinus 

 Clappertoni) ; b, RUppell's Francolin (F. Rupelhi) ; 

 c, Erckel's Francolin (F. Erckleii) ; d, the Baibaiy 

 Partridge (Perdix petrosa.) 



1779.— The Rouloul Partridge 

 {Crmtonyx cristatvs). In the genus Cryptonyx 

 the bill is stout, compressed, and convex above; 

 orbits and lore naked ; hind toe without a claw, and 

 not touching the ground ; wings short ; tarsi spur- 

 less Geo<Taphical distribution, India and its islands. 

 The Roulovil partridge, called by the Malays Bostum. 

 is a native of Malaya, Sumatra, and Java, where it 

 haunts the vast forests, avoiding the precincts of 

 man's abode ; it is wild. shy, and difficult to csptuie, 

 and is kept alive in confinement with great difti- 

 culty. It is the Rouloul de Malacca of Sonnerat. 



Tills is a beautiful species; the male is crested; 

 anterior to the crest rise a few long hair- like 

 feathers : the crest is full and falls back over the 

 occiput ; at its origin it is pure white, and then be- 

 comes of a fire red. The forehead and upper parts 

 of the neck are blackish blue, contrasting with the 

 red naked skin of the lore and orbits. The upper 

 part of the body is emerald green, the lower part 

 rich azure blue : the wings are ruddy brOAn; the 

 bill lead-colour ; the legs flesh-colour. Ihe lail- 



