THE BLACK-BREASTED QUAIL. 333 



687. COTURNIX COROMANDELICA, 



THE BLACK-BREASTED QUAIL. 



Tetrao coromandelicus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 764. Coturnix coromandelica, 

 Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 5(S8 ; JTione, JNW* and Jfyt/*, p. 550 : id. S. F. iii. p. 178 ; 

 Bl. B. Burm. p. 151 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. Ill; Hame fy Marsh. Game Birds, 

 ii. p. 151, pi. ; Gates, S. F. x. p. 236. 



Description. Male. Similar in general appearance to the preceding, but 

 with the breast black and the black lines on the throat differently disposed ; 

 centre of chin and throat black, of uniform width throughout ; from the 

 lower end of this black patch a narrow band runs up to the ear-coverts, and 

 another from the gape, the two meeting at right angles ; below the cross 

 throat-band another broad band of white, and then another narrower 

 black one. 



The female is very similar to the female of the preceding. 



In both sexes the outer webs of the primaries of the present species are 

 edged with rufous, not barred as in the last ; and the two species may, 

 under all conditions of plumage, be discriminated by this character. 



Irides clear to dark brown ; legs and feet pale fleshy, in some greyish, in 

 some with a yellowish tinge ; bill, in the male, bluish black to dusky, paler 

 at the base below ; in the female brownish horny above, bluish horny 

 below. (Hume.) 



Length 7 inches, tail 1*5, wing 3*5, tarsus '9, bill from gape '6. The 

 female is of about the same size. 



The Black-breasted or Rain Quail is found rather commonly in northern 

 Pegu, especially in the dry parts near Thayetmyo, but whether as a resi- 

 dent or a migrant I am not in a position to say. Mr. Hume states that 

 he has received it from the Bassein district. It does not appear to be 

 found in any part of Tenasserim ; but it is probably common in Arrakan. 



It occurs over the greater portion of India, and it has been met with in 

 Chittagong ; so that it will probably be found throughout the Indo-Burmese 

 countries. 



This Quail frequents grass-land covered with bushes in preference to 

 fields and stubble. It is generally seen singly or in pairs, running quietly 

 about, picking up grass- seeds and insects. It has a pretty call of two 

 whistling notes. It is not unlikely to be found breeding in Burmah, espe- 

 cially on the dry ground around Thayetmyo. In India it breeds during 

 the rains, depositing as many as nine eggs in a small hollow iu the ground; 

 they are yellowish white or bun , speckled and otherwise marked with 

 black, purple, or brown. 



