116 PHASIANID^E. 



Sind, and the Punjab in March and April, and finally migrating 

 northward in the latter month or May. A few, however, remain 

 and breed in India, and nests have been taken not only in Northern 

 India but at Purneah in Bengal, Hoshangabad in the Central 

 Provinces, and even Satara in the Bombay, Deccan. They lay 

 from 6 or 7 to 10 buff eggs speckled with brown, in a hollow 

 on the ground amongst grass. The eggs measure about 1'18 

 by -89. 



The call of the male Quail, often heard, and especially in spring, 

 is a long whistling note followed by two shorter notes ; hence the 

 name dactylisonans, applied to the species by several writers. 

 Except just after the breeding-season these birds are found singly 

 or in twos or threes, not in bevies or coveys. Their food consists 

 chiefly of grain and seeds. Their flight is rapid, close to the 

 ground, and very straight. Quails are often found in large 

 numbers in Northern India, and afford excellent sport for the 

 gun. They are caught by natives in nets, and are kept alive, the 

 males for fighting, and both sexes for food. They are, as is well 

 known, delicious eating. 



C.japonica is an Eastern race of C. communis, inhabiting Japan 

 and China. The adult male has the sides of the head, chin, and 

 throat dull vinous-red without black marks ; the female and young 

 male have the feathers of the throat and chin elongate and lanceo- 

 late, especially those on the sides of the throat. In the British 

 Museum Catalogue this form is, apparently with justice, classed as 

 a separate species, and two skins of females one from Bhutan, 

 the other from Karennee, are referred to it. Neither, however, 

 is a characteristic Fpecimen, and as intermediate forms are not- 

 uncommon, it may be well to await the discovery of males before 

 including C.japonica in the Indian fauna. 



135G. Coturnix coromandelica. The Black-lreasted or 

 Rain Quail. 



p. 550; id. IS. F. i, pp. 136, 227 ; Adam, ibid. p. 393; Gates, S. F. 

 iii, p. 178 ; Blyth fy Wald. Birds Burm. p. 151 ; Butler, S. F. iv, 

 p. 7 ; v, p. 231 ; ix, p. 423: Ball, S. F. vii, p. 226 ; Cripps, ibid. 

 p. 298; Hume $ Marsh. Game B. iii, p. 151, pi.: Hume, Cat. 

 no. 830 ; Vidal, S. F. ix, p. 76 ; Reid, S. F. x, p. 63; Darison, 

 ibid. p. 411 ; Oates, B. B. ii, p. 333 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 316 ; 

 Hume, S. F. xi, p. 310; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. iii, 

 p. 444 ; Offilvie Grant, ('at. B. M. xxii, p. 241. 



Most of the names used for C. communis are applied also to this species 

 bv natives of India. The following are peculiar to the present form : 

 Chinna Bater, H. ; Chdnac, Nepal : Kade, Tarn. ; Chinna Yellichi, Tel. 



Coloration. Very similar to that of C. communis, especially on 

 the upper parts, but the present bird is distinguished by its smaller 



