114 PHAfiUNID.C. 



near Poona and Bombay), but it appears not to have been observed 

 on the Malabar coast south of Bombay, and it is unknown in the 

 dry regions of North- western India. It is pretty common in 

 Western and Southern Ceylon, and in Eastern Bengal, Assam, 

 Sylhet, Cacbar, Manipur, and in parts of Burma, especially in the 

 plains of Pegu, and it is found throughout Southern China and 

 South-eastern Asia generally ; whilst a closely allied race inhabits 

 the Malay Archipelago and Australia. In the Sub-Himalayan 

 tracts and in. Pegu this species is said to occur chiefly in the 

 rainy season, whilst in Lower Bengal it is found principally in 

 the cold weather. 



Habits, $'c. This, like other Quails, is generally found in grass, 

 singly or in pairs. It keeps to open, rather swampy ground, and 

 is often to be met with around paddy fields. Its note is a low 

 double whistle. Its food consists chiefly of grass-seeds. This 

 species breeds in Northern India, Bengal, and Pegu from the latter 

 end of June to the middle of August, and lavs from 4 to 6 

 olivaceous drab eggs, generally minutely speckled, and measuring 

 about -98 by '76, in a small hollow on the ground amidst short 

 grass. 



Genus COTURNIX, Bonn., ITl'O. 



The true Quails are birds of small size and peculiar plumage, 

 with conspicuous whitish longitudinal streaks on the back. Unlike 

 the PJiasianidce in general, some of the Quails are migratory. The 

 wing is much longer and more pointed than in Partridges, the 1st 

 primary being as long as the 2nd or slightly longer. The tail is 

 of 10 or 12 feathers, and less than half as long as the wing. The 

 bill is small and rather slender ; the tarsus bears no spur in either 

 sex, and is rather longer than the middle toe and claw ; the claws 

 are all of moderate size. The sexes differ slightly in plumage. 



The genus Coturnix comprises six species, and is found through- 

 out the Eastern hemisphere, including Australia and New Zealand. 

 Two species are Indian. 



to the Species. 



ed with buff . . 

 1. Primaries without bars C. coromandelica, p. 11G. 



a. Outer webs of primaries barred with buff . . C. communi*, p. 114. 



C. coromandelictt, p. 1 



1355. Cotnrnix communis. The Common or Grey Quail. 



Tetrao coturnix, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i, p. 278. 



Coturnix communis, Bonn. Tabl. Encijcl. Meth. \, p. 217, pi. 90 

 (1790) ; Blyth, Cat. p. 254 ; Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 586 ; Stoliczka, 

 J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. 2, p. 69; xli, pt. 2, p. 250; Godwin- 

 Austen, Hid. p. U2;Hume, N. $ E. p. 549; id. S. F. i, p. 227 ; 

 Blyth $ Wald. Birds Burm. p. 151; Butler, S. F. iv, p. 7; ix, 

 p 423 ; Fairbank, S. F. iv, p. 262 ; Davidson fy Wend. S. F. vii, 

 p. 87 ; BaU, ibid. p. 226 ; Cripps, ibid. p. 298 ; Hume $ Marsh. 

 Gf'me B. ii, p. 133, pi. ; Hume, Cat. no. 829 ; Scully, 8. F. viii, 

 p. 350; Vital, S. F. ix, p. 76; Davison, S. F. x, p. 41 Ij Oates, 



