360 BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE QUAIL. 

 (Pcrdix Coturnix, Lath. La Catllc, Temm.) 



LENGTH seven inches and a half. Bill dusky; 

 eyes hazel ; the colours of the head, neck, and back 

 are a mixture of brown, ash, and black; over each 

 eye there is a yellowish streak, extending behind 

 the auriculars, and another of the same over the 

 middle of the forehead to the nape; a dark line 

 passes from each corner of the bill, forming a kind 

 of divided gorget about the throat; the scapular 

 feathers are marked by a light yellowish streak 

 down the middle of each; quills lightish brown, 

 with small rust-coloured bands on the exterior 

 edges of the feathers; the breast is pale rusty, 

 spotted with black, and streaked with pale yellow; 

 the tail consists of twelve feathers, barred like the 

 wings ; belly and thighs yellowish white ; legs pale 

 brown. The female wants the black spots on the 

 breast, and is easily distinguished by a less vivid 

 plumage. 



