228 A MANUAL OF THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



155. Excalfactoria chinensis. KING QUAIL. 



[Tetrao chinensis Linne, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., Vol. I., p. 277, (pref. May 24th) 1766 : China. 



Extra-limital.] 



Gould, Vol. V., pi. 92 (pt. xii.), Sept. 1st, 1843. Mathews, Vol. I., pt. 1, pi. 12, Oct. 31st, 



1910 



Excalfactoria australis Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. II., p. 197, Pec.) 1865 : "Australia " 



= Queensland. 



Excalfactoria chinensis victories Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 179, Jan. 31st, 1912 : 



Koo Wee Reep, Victoria. 



Excalfactoria chinensis colletti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 73, June 28th, 



1912 : Glencoe, Northern Territory. 



Excalfactoria chinensis cairnsce Mathews, ib. : pt. 4, p. 83, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Cairns, 



Queensland. 



DISTRIBUTION. Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South 

 Australia. 



Adult male. General colour above black with pale shaft-lines which are broader 

 and more pronounced on the lower back and rump ; crown of head black with a 

 longitudinal line of white from the middle of the crown to the hind-neck ; feathers 

 of the mantle rufous-brown crossed with black, streaked with narrow white shaft- 

 lines and margined with lead-grey ; scapulars lead-grey with broken up markings 

 of black which are submarginal on some of the longer feathers ; upper tail -co verts 

 black with lead -grey margins ; wing-coverts greyish-brown with more or less tracings 

 of black bars ; primary -co verts and quills pale brown ; tail-feathers lead -grey at 

 the base and with a marginal notch at tips ; remainder deep chestnut live the under 

 tail-coverts and middle of the abdomen ; sides of crown, breast and sides of body 

 deep slate-colour, some of the feathers bordering the chestnut of the under-surface ; 

 a small white line from the base of the bill to the eye, followed by a black line below 

 the eye which is continued along the sides of the face and joined to the black of the 

 throat ; a longitudinal white patch enclosed between the black line below the eye 

 and the black of the throat ; a semicircular white collar which commences at the 

 back of the ear-coverts and meets on the middle of the throat where it is broader ; 

 this white collar is followed by a narrow line of black which separates it from the 

 slate colour of the chest and upper-breast ; sides of breast more or less barred 

 with black ; bill black ; iris red ; feet yellow. Total length 130 mm. ; culmen 12, 

 wing 74, tail 26, tarsus 20. Two apparently adult birds still retain a trace of chestnut 

 on the outer margin of the greater wing-coverts. 



Adult female. General colour above reddish-brown streaked with white shaft- 

 lines and black blotches or cross markings ; crown of head black with a white line 

 down the middle ; sides of crown, sides of face, and lower throat tawny ; wing- 

 coverts pale reddish-brown finely barred with black and longitudinal white shaft- 

 lines ; primary-coverts and quills pale brown ; outer primary white along the outer 

 edge ; under-surface fulvous crossed by narrow black bars broad on the sides of the 

 body and flanks, less on the thighs and under tail-coverts. Total length 130 mm. ; 

 culmen 12, wing 70, tail 25, tarsus 18. 



Immature. Closely resembling the adult female. 



Nestling. Sooty-black everywhere except the throat which is buff, and three 

 indistinct streaks of the same colour on the top of the head. 



The chicks are able to fly when ten days old, and are practically in adult 

 plumage at six weeks. 



Nest. A hollow in the ground, lined, more or less, with grass, etc., and sheltered 

 by herbage. 



Eggs. Clutch, four ; oval in form, with a glossy surface ; and drab ground- 

 colour, minutely freckled with reddish-brown over the entire surface, but more- 

 thickly at the larger end ; axis 14-15 mm., diameter 17-18. 



