THE EASTERN PAINTED BUSH-QUAIL. 131 



In the first place, it represents the present bird as, if any- 

 thing, larger than its congener, whereas, as the dimensions 

 already given (compiled from numerous measurements of 

 both sexes of both species recorded in the flesh) clearly prove, 

 it is markedly smaller. 



In the second place, it does not sufficiently bring out the dif- 

 ferences in the plumage. 



In the male, in this species, the black frontal band is much 

 narrower, and the white band surmounting it broader, and there 

 is altogether less black on the crown and sides of the occiput 

 than in erythrorhynchus. The chestnut of the lower surface is 

 much paler, and whereas in erythrorhynchus only the feathers 

 of the upper breast and the sides of the lower breast are broad- 

 ly fringed with greyish pink, and exhibit black subterminal 

 spots, in blewitti this colouration extends over the entire breast 

 and part of the upper abdomen, and the pinkish grey fringing 

 is much broader and paler, and the black spotting more widely 

 spread. The entire upper surface is paler and greyer, and where- 

 as in erythrorhynchus the chin is broadly black, in blewitti 

 there is at most only a trace of this, and in some specimens no 

 trace. 



The female is everywhere, above and below, paler and greyer 

 than her congener ; she has a much broader and paler rufous 

 frontal band, and many more spots on the sides of the breast 



THESE TWO are the only known species of the genus by many 

 still united with Perdicula ; but these Painted Bush-Quails are 

 certainly not congeneric with the other ones ; the bills are slen- 

 derer, the tarsi exhibit no tubercles, the plumage is altogether 

 softer, the note is widely different ; and inappropriate, therefore, 

 as Mr. Gould's name " Microperdix" is to an essentially Quail- 

 like bird, I am obliged to accept it in accordance with the laws 

 of priority. 



