THE QUAIL. 881 



Juvenile. — Upper -parts much like adult but lance -shaped buff 

 stripes rather narrower ; under-parts like adult female but brown- 

 black spots on breast smaller and sides of feathers of flanks with 

 more regular spot-like bars ; tips of primaries usually somewhat 

 mottled pale buff ; wing-coverts with black subterminal bars 

 usually divided into two spots by pale buff shaft-lines ; rest of 

 plumage like adult. 



First winter. — The juvenile plumage is completely moulted 

 except for two outer primaries as in other game-birds and by 

 Sept. or Oct. bird is like adult. 



Measurements and structure. — cowing 100-112 (rarely 115) mm., 

 tail 32-37, tarsus 23-28, bill from feathers 11-12 (12 European 

 measured). $as male. Primaries : 1st and 2nd longest, 3rd usually 

 1-3 mm. shorter, sometimes as long, 4th 6-13 shorter, 5th 13-20 

 shorter, 6th 20-26 shorter ; 1st emarginated inner and 2nd and 

 3rd outer webs. Outer secondary about as long as 10th primary, 

 innermost between 6th and 7th, tips sharply rounded. Tail very 

 small and hidden by coverts, 10 to 12 narrow feathers, tips rather 

 pointed. Hind toe small and elevated, three front ones slender and 

 slightly webbed at base, claws short, little curved, slightly dilated. 

 Bill small, fairly stout, upper mandible curving to tip and projecting 

 beyond under mandible, which is shallow and straight. Nostrils 

 slit-like, covered by an oblong operculum. 



Soft parts. — Bill grey, brownish along ridge of culmen ; legs 

 and feet pale yellowish- or brownish -flesh ; iris pale yellowish-brown. 

 Characters and allied forms. — C. c. japonica (E. Siberia, 

 N. China, Japan) has in both sexes in winter long pointed feathers 

 on sides of chin and throat and male in summer has chestnut chin 

 and throat ; C. c. africana (S. Africa) has rufous sides of head, is 

 darker on upper- and under-parts and rather smaller ; C. c. confisa 

 (Canary Is.) is much like last but larger and not quite so dark on 

 under-parts ; C. c. conturbans (Azores) is still darker than G. c. 

 africana and with more buff -brown and less olive wing-coverts. 

 Distinguished from other British game-birds by small size and pale 

 buff stripes on upper -parts. 



Field -characters. —Affects arable land and rough tussocky 

 pastures by preference. In form a miniature Partridge with sandy 

 coloration and a striped crown. Resembles Partridge, too, in 

 powers of running and mode of flight, but seldom flies far when 

 flushed ; indeed, owing to its secretive habits would often be over- 

 looked were it not for cry of male, a very liquid "wet-mi -lips," 

 uttered by night as well as day. The responsive cry of the female 

 is a soft " peu, peu." 



Breeding-habits. — Haunts open country : cultivation, grass 

 lands and rough pastures. Nest. — A scantily lined hollow in ground 

 frequently in growing corn but also in grass and other crops. 

 Eggs. — Usually 7 to 12, but occasionally up to 18, yellowish -white in 

 ground with dark chocolate or umber-brown markings, which may 



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