■44 PHASIANIDJ5. 



Genus MELANOPERDIX, Jerdon. 



Melanoperdix nigra ( Vigors). 

 (Plate III: fig. 2.) 



Melanoperdix nigra, Everett, last Birds Born. p. 199 (1889) ; Hose, Ibis, 

 1893, p. 423 ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. 2Xii.»p. 228 (1893) ; Sharpe, 

 Hand-l. i. p. 30 (1899). 



One of the eggs of the Black Wood-Partridge in the Collection is 

 in fragments. The other is a very broad oval with one end much 

 compressed and pointed. It is plain white and measures 1"6 

 hy 1-25. 



3. Baram, Sarawak, Borneo, Sept. A. H. Everett, Esq. [P.]. 



Genus COTURNIX, Bonn. 



The eggs of the True Quails are of a pointed oval shape. They 

 are all handsomely marked, but the amount of gloss is very 

 variable. 



Coturnix coturnix {Linn.). 



Perdix coturnix, Thien. Fortpjlanz. ges. Vog. p. 34, tab. viii. fig. 1 a, h, 



%. 2 a, J (1845-54). 

 (Coturnix communis, Baedeker, Bier Eur. Vog. tab. 21. fig. 6 (1856-63) ; 



Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 224 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. vii. p. 143 (1878) ; 



Hume f Marsh. Game Birds Ind. ii. p. 133 (1879) ; Seebohm, Brit. 



Birds, ii. p. 462, pi. 20 (1884) ; Oates ed. Hume, Nests ^ Eggs Ind. 



B. iii. p. 443 (1890) ; Seebohm, Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 277, pi. 59. 



figs. 1, 3 (1896). 

 Coturnix vulgaris, Hewitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 284, pi. Ixxii. 



(1856). 

 Turnix coturnix, Salvin, Ibis, 1869, p. 353. 

 Coturnix coturnix, Gh-ant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 231 (1893) ; Oates, 



Game Birds Ind. i. p. 80 (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 31 (1899). 



The eggs of the Common Quail are of various shades of 

 creamy white, yellowish buff, buff and greenish yellow, marked 

 with deep olive-brown, reddish brown, and blackish brown. In 

 some the markings consist of small specks and irregularly-shaped 

 ispots, witli a few small blotches. In others the markings are 

 mostly blotches of considerable size, frequently confluent, and 

 covering quite half the surface of the shell. Numerous specimens 

 measure from 1-1 to 1*2 in length, and from -85 to -95 in breadth. 



2. Shefiield (H. Seebohm). Seebohm Coll. 



6. Cambridge (H. Saunders). Seebohm Coll. 



9. Wicken Fen, Cambridge ( W. Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Farren). 



11. Ely, Cambridgeshire ( W. F.). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



5. Malaga, Spain (H. Saunders). Seebohm Coll. 



5. Dorpat, Baltic Provinces (iEMssojo). Seebohm Coll. 



6. Pomerania (T. Holland). Seebohm Coll. 



