672 



D. Seth-Smith : 



tail more or less erected and the crop puffed out. She then 

 stops and faces him, and commences "booming " or "cooing" 

 to him (much as a cock Pigeon coos to the hen) the while 

 stamping and scratching on the ground with her feet. The 

 male meanwhile answers her with low crooning notes. 



At this time the female would very frequently pick 

 up a dainty morsel, such as a grub or grain of seed, and 

 holding it at the tip of her bill, would call her mate and 

 j>resent it to him. 



On May 20th the nest was apparently complete, being 

 carefully domed over with hay, and the female frequently 

 occupying it. May 21st, one egg*, four more being laid on 

 consecutive days. The male commenced to sit on the 25th, 

 and from that time the female took no further notice of 

 the nest, though she still uttered her booming call-note 

 frequently, which would seem to suggest that she was 

 calling for another mate. 



Three chicks hatched on the morning of June 7th, the 

 other two eggs failing to hatch, although fertile. The incuba- 

 tion had thus occupied just over thirteen days. 



JSTewly-hatched young of Turnix varia. 



The male takes entire charge of the chicks, the female 

 taking no notice whatever of them. 



The young birds are to-day (June 16th) nearly fledged, the 



