224 



CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



marked with a deeper shade. The hen broods about twenty days, and testifies such devotion to 

 her precious charge as often to sacrifice her life rather than quit the nest, while her mate goes fortli 

 with his companions into the neighbouring fields. The young grow rapidly and soon leave their 

 parents' care, for by the time they are si.x weeks old they have attained their full size, and can fly well 

 enough to join in the autumn migration. Immense numbers of Quails are annually captured on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, and the island of Capri so abounded in them that we are told some of 

 its ancient bishops derived the principal part of their revenue from this source. Waterton assures us 

 that no less than 17,000 of these delicate birds have been conveyed to Rome in one day. 



The DWARF QUAILS {Excalfactoria), the smallest members of this familj', represent a group 





THE CHINESE QUAIL [Excalfacloria Chinensis). 



distinguished from those already described by the rounded form of their wing, in which the third, 

 fourth, and fifth quills are longer than the rest, the first being much shorter than the second ; and the 

 unusual difference observable in the plumage of the male and female. According to Latham, the 

 scientific name given to these birds has arisen from a custom the Chinese have of using them to 

 warm their hands upon during the winter. The various species inhabit India, the Malay Islands, 

 and Australia. 



THE CHINESE QUAIL. 



The Chinese Quail {Excalfactoria Chinensis) is a very beautiful bird, with the entire mantle of 

 an olive-brown, each feather having a dark and light line on its shaft ; the quills of the wing-covers 

 are without these markings, though some few of the shoulder-feathers are striped with deep red. The 

 brow, cheeks, breast, and sides are of a rich, deep grey ; the throat is black above, and white, sur- 

 rounded by a black line, beneath ; the centre of the breast, the belly, lower tail-covers, and tail are of 

 a beautiful brownish red. The coloration of the female is less varied in its tints ; her chin is merely 



