808 Asiatic Society. [No. 128. 



2. C. textilis, Tem. ; Perdix Coromandelica, Latham : the Rain Quail of sports- 

 men. Distinguished from the last by its smaller size, the plainness of its primaries, 

 and especially by the black breast of the male. Is very numerous in the cultivated 

 parts of the Indian peninsula, where many breed ; but great numbers arrive in the 

 N. E. provinces of the Bengal Presidency early in the rains, and, after breeding, 

 depart thence (save a few stragglers, which are observed at all seasons,) in September. 

 It is not common about Calcutta; and in Nepal its migrations resemble those of the 

 common species. 



3. C.Jlavipes, Nobis. A remarkably diminutive species, which I understand is not 

 rare in Bengal during the cool season. I procured a fine male alive, which I kept 

 some time, but it unluckily made its escape. Afterwards I obtained a female, in bad 

 condition, both of them having been brought with Larks, &c, by the bazar shikarees, 

 and this, when it died, was ruined as a specimen by the Ants. However, its dimen- 

 sions were — Length five inches and a half, by nine inches and a half in extent, 

 the wing two inches and seven-eighths, and tarse seven-eighths of an inch. Legs 

 bright yellow. The plumage does not differ much from that of the common Quail, 

 and the sexes are similarly distinguished. This bird has a remarkably soft, piping 

 note. 



4. C. Phillipensis, Brisson ; Tetrao Chinensis and Manillensis, Gmelin ; Cotur- 

 nix excalfatoria, Temminck. "There is an accurate description of this species of 

 Quail," writes Mr. Jerdon, "in Mr. Elliot's notes, taken from a single specimen 

 shot by a gentleman near Belgaum, in the southern Mahratta country." The Society 

 has also received Nepalese specimens from Mr. Hodgson : and Mr. Frith assures me 

 that he has found it tolerably common in different parts of Bengal, as near Islampore, 

 where he resides. In the Malay countries generally, it appears to be very abundant. 

 Some notice of its habits, as the Pikau of Raffles, has been already cited. It is 

 remarkable for the great dissimilarity of the sexes, and the male is perhaps the most 

 beautiful bird of its genus. 



The three next are pigmy Partridges, and exhibit every character of the genus 

 Perdix, both as to form and habits ; insomuch that I cannot recognise the genus Rubi- 

 cola, Hodgson, proposed for them in the ' Bengal Sporting Magazine' for May, 1837. 

 Col. Sykes unaccountably ranges them in Coturnix, as if size alone were sufficient to 

 refer them to that group. 



5. Perdix Argoondah : Coturnix Argoondah, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, 153 ; P. 

 olivacea, Buchanan Hamilton ; Java Partridge of Latham : Bush Quail of sports- 

 men.* Generally diffused over all India, where there is any low cover. 



6. P. rubiginosa, Valenciennes ; Coturnix Pentah, Sykes, Ibid ; Forest Quail of 

 sportsmen. Southern India only.f 



7. P. erythrorhyncha ; Coturnix erythrorhyncha, Sykes : Black Quail of Neil- 

 ghierry sportsmen. Elevated districts of Southern India only. 



Addendum. — Since the first portion of this report has been made up at the press, 

 the Society has received from Mr. Jerdon, with numerous other specimens, a skin 

 of his Timalia platyura (vide p. 796, note to preceding page), and I consider this bird 



* Also termed Rock Quail in the peninsula. 



t Mr. Frith, however, has since informed me that he is tolerably positive of having once obtained 

 this species in Bengal. 



