PARTRIDGE. 319 



along the shaft of each a rust-coloured line ; breast, sides, and under 

 tail coverts, very pale rust-colour, barred with black ; belly, thighs, 

 and under wing coverts dirty white ; quills brown, beneath very 

 pale ; the tertials mottled with rust-colour ; tail shorter than the 

 coverts, of the same colour; legs naked, yellow, no spur behind in 

 either sex. All the descriptions hitherto given of this bird seem to 

 be those of the male : that in the PI. enlum.% quoted by Buffon, 

 was supposed by him to be the female, yet the same black curved 

 streaks are round the chin and throat, though narrower, and not so 

 well defined ; hence it may probably be a young male. 



Inhabits China, the Philippine Isles, and various parts of India : 

 also Java and Sumatra, there called Pikau ; is often seen in flocks of 

 one hundred together; it seems to differ in size: that of the Philip- 

 pines is only four inches in length. Mr. Edwards's bird, which was 

 brought alive from Canton, measured six inches ; and that found at 

 Bengal, half an inch less. This bird is used, as well as the Common 

 Quail, to warm the hands in winter, as may be seen in various 

 drawings and paper hangings from China, where they are called 

 Chau chun ; many of these are purchased by the Europeans, to be 

 made into pies, on their voyage home, and cost three kandarins 

 apiece. They are said to be caught by means of a call pipe, as in 

 Europe, but that they are chiefly females, f Both this, and the 

 Common Quail, are trained to fight against each other, in the manner 

 of Game Cocks in Europe, and much money is lost and won upon 

 such occasions. 



A. — Length under five inches. Bill pale; the plumage above 

 cinereous brown; forehead, breast, and sides pale ash-colour; lower 

 part of the breast, belly, thighs, vent, and tail deep ferruginous 



* This figure is copied in appearance from Brisson, but the beautiful mottled and varie- 

 gated plumage on the upper parts of the body is lost in the uniform brown colouring. 



f Osbeck, Voy. i. 269. 303. I do not reconcile the idea of their catching males in one 

 country, and females in another, for the purpose of sale ; this matter wants elucidation. 



