CHAPTER XII. 



TflE QUAIL FAMILY 



(Phasianidce). 



The Calif ornian Quail The Coromandel Quail 

 The Australian and Tasmanian Quails The 

 A rgoondah Quail. 



] 



lUAILS are members of the gallinaceous 



order, Gallinss ; but why they should have 

 been included in the Pheasant family 

 rather than in any other connected with 

 it, does not to me appear very clear. However, there 

 they are, and there I am fain to leave them for the 

 present at all events. 



At first sight a Quail does not look a very likely 

 subject to make a pet of, but a closer acquaintance 

 with several of them proves to demonstration that 

 there are few nicer birds to keep. In the first place, 

 though naturally timid, they soon become familiar; 

 secondly, some of them breed quite freely in confine- 

 ment, and the young, when properly treated, are not 

 more difficult to rear than chickens ; and thirdly, they 

 are by no means difficult to preserve in health and 

 condition. 



