20 



THE BIEDS OF ATJSTEALIA 



•white. The feathers of the lower neck and breast with a decided wash 

 of greyish-green, and with slightly indicated bars of dull greyish, without 

 white centres; iris and feet yellow; bill brown. Total length 7.3 inches, 

 wing 4.2, tail 2, tarsus 1. 



This bird was named from a single female obtained at 

 Cooktown, Queensland, in 1899, and at the time of writing 

 nothing more is known about it or whether it will prove to be 

 a good species or not. 



The Red-chested Quail. 



Turnix pyrrhotJwrax. 



Australia except West. 



Female: Chest rufous, feathers round the eye black spotted with 

 white; upper surface grey, most of the feathers of the back with narrow 

 transverse bars of rufous and black; feathers on top of head black with 

 rufous margins, a whitish -buffi stripe down centre of head; wing 

 coverts marbled with black, buff and dull red, margined with pale buffi; 

 middle of chin and throat and underparts whitish. Total length 6 inches, 

 wing 3.3^ tail 1.4, tarsus 0.8. 



Male: Like female, only smaller and rust-coloured chest not so 

 bright. Length 5.2 inches, wing 2.9, tail 1.3, tarsus 0.75. 



The nest is a slight depression, usually lined with a 

 little grass. Four eggs are usually laid, much smaller at one 

 end and are yellowish-white, thickly blotched with umber, 

 reddish and purplish-brown markings, some having finer 

 markings than others. They measure .95 x .73 inch. 



The Little Quail. 



Turnix velox. 



Australia generally. 



Chest dull light red, darker at the sides; feathers surrounding the eye 

 light red; colour above reddish chestnut, shading into light red on nape and 

 top of head; the chin, throat, breast and underparts white. Total length of 

 female, 5.5 inches, wing 3.3, tail 1.2, tarsus 0.7; male 5.5 inches, wing 2.9, 

 tail 1.2, tarsus 0.6. 



Nest usually lined with a little grass; eggs four, 

 yellowish-white and thickly marked with blotches of umber, 

 reddish and purplish-brown; in some clutches the markings 

 are finer than in others. Dimensions .96 x .71 inch. 



