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FAMILY PERDICID^. 

 GENUS COT URN IX (Mcehrmg). 



OTHER species of this genus occur in New Zealand, India, Africa and Europe. None are found 

 in America ; and only one true Quail has, so far, been identified in Australia, where it frequents 

 the open, grassy plains, and especially the arable lands. 



COTURNIX PECTORALIS (Gould). 



PECTORAL QUAIL. Genus : Coturnix. 



ALTHOUGH specimens of this bird have been obtained from many parts of Australia, varying 

 more or less in detail of colouring, and somewhat in size, no other distinct species can be 

 classified here. The one under consideration resembles the European Quail in many ways ; it flies, 

 when startled, to some distance in a straight line, and like the European variety, it lies well 

 to the pointer, furnishes good sport, and is an excellent bird for the table. From its mode of 

 feeding it is naturally found most plentifully on cultivated lands, and hence obtains the' name, in 

 Tasmania, of the Stubble Quail. September, October, and November are its breeding season, which 

 varies somewhat according to latitude, being later in Tasmania and South Australia. 



The favourite food of the species is grain : in parts of the country where cultivation is not 

 carried on, seeds and insects form its diet. 



The eggs differ greatly in colouring, according to locality. The ground colour is a faint yellow, 

 with brown markings, the latter varying from blotches to fine specks. The places chosen for nesting 

 also vary, being sometimes found in tufts of herbage on the plains, at others amongst the thick, 

 matted grass on creek flats. Eleven to fourteen eggs are, as a rule, found in one nest. 



The female is smaller than the male, the latter averaging about four ounces and a quarter. 



The male is brown on the crown of the head, back of the neck, mantle, back, and upper tail-coverts, 

 the individual feathers of all these parts having a fine light yellow line down the centre, and zig-zag markings 

 of black. Over each eye are two parallel lines of white, and a single white line runs along the top of 

 the head. The remainder of the head and throat are of different shades of buff'. The primaries and 

 upper part of the chest are black ; the abdomen varies in colour, with different specimens, from almost 

 white to different shades of faint yellow, each feather having a black mark down the centre. In the 

 female the black markings of the chest are absent, and the throat is white, not buff. In the male 

 the bill is almost black, but olive in the female. In both sexes the feet are of a pink shade. 



The usual length is about 6f inches ; bill, 3f inches ; tarsi, f of an inch. 



Habitats : Nearly all parts of Australia where grassy areas and cultivated lands occur. 



