Correspondence



47



Ruddy-headed ( rubidiceps ), Kelp ( antarctica )—the species of this note

is to my mind the most attractive ; the black on the wings and tail

(and to a lesser extent scattered spots on the back feathers, with

tinges on the forehead and part of the breast) contrast with the white

plumage; the red beak with tip black and red feet being also

ornamental, while the brown iris shows prominently.


Both sexes are large and thick-set, and the only difference in

plumage that I could discover was that the male had some dark purple

feathers at lower part of wing when closed.


Specimens seen have been from Peru and Argentina. Does the

species extend elsewhere, and is there anything characteristic or unusual

in its habits when wild ?


In addition to the two voices above mentioned both sexes squorked

later on like domestic British Geese.


Fred. D. Welch.



QUAILS IN CONFLICT


Sirs, —Whether any species fight frequently when wild seems to

me to be difficult to decide owing to their small size. It seemed to be,

therefore, worth recording that two female Indian Button Quail

(Turnix tanJd) fought (in the small bird-house of the Gardens) to a

fatal ending on December 24,1920 (as you are probably already aware).


My attention was called by a visitor to the quarrel; and by the

time I arrived at the cage (being, when spoken to, at the further end

of the house) one bird was apparently already dead, because the other

was standing on it and pecking very vigorously at its rump area.

When the keeper got the body out there was a large superficial wound

there, which suggested that the conflict had been “short and hot ’’,

because there was no disturbance in the cage a few minutes before, I and

the keeper having both of us been there quite close. Probably heart

failure brought a sudden end to the fight. Apparently the victor was

still enraged even after we removed the corpse of its victim, judging

by the fact that a few minutes later I found it fighting with an Indian

Jungle Bush-Quail ( Pedicula asiatica) ; but it had to retreat speedily

before this larger opponent! Discretion was the better part of valour



