Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Male. 
Female. 
320 GALLINZ. PERDIX. QUAIL. 
Quails are naturally very pugnaceous, and will fight with 
determined resolution in the manner of our game cocks ; they 
were kept for this express purpose by the Greeks and Ro- 
mans, who delighted in the amusement ; and the fighting of 
quails still continues to be a favourite pastime with the Chi- 
nese.—These birds feed on grain, and seeds of various kinds ; 
as well as upon insects and worms. In confinement they are 
principally fed with hemp-seed, upon which diet they soon 
become loaded with fat, and are esteemed delicious eating. 
Prate 62. Natural size. 
Bill blackish-grey. Crown of the head, occiput, and nape 
of the neck, black; the feathers margined with chesnut- 
brown. Down the middle of the head and neck is a 
cream-yellow streak. Over each eye, and proceeding 
down the neck, is a white streak. Space between the 
bill and eyes and ear-coverts pale chesnut-brown. Chin 
and throat, and streaks turning upwards towards the 
ear-coverts, chesnut-brown, mixed with blackish-brown ; 
the rest of the neck and cheeks white. Back, scapulars, 
and wing-coverts, black; the feathers margined and va- 
ried with brown; and each having its shaft and central 
parts sienna-yellow. Breast and belly pale buff-orange ; 
the shafts and margins of the feathers yellowish-white. 
Flanks having the feathers similar in disposition of co- 
lours to those of the back. Tail blackish-brown ; with 
the shafts, tips, and bars, cream-yellow. Legs and 
toes pale yellowish-brown. 
The female differs in not having any black or brown on 
the neck and throat. Her breast is spotted with black- 
ish-brown ; and the general tints of her plumage are 
paler. 
