55* 



ably has be«n introduaed into this district by having escaped, 

 as they often do, from confinement.* Nearly all the birds 

 brought to this country from the coast of India are young and 

 have the throat dark ferruginous brown. 



Excalfactoria Chinensis. (Linn.) The Chinese Quail. 

 Layard gives the south of the Island as the habitat of this 

 bird, adding, that he has not met with it elsewhere. It is however 

 tolerably common in the Cinnamon Gardens, frequenting the 

 thick fern-brakes near swampy grounds. Layard remarks with 

 justice, that it is most difficult to flush when once put up. 

 Although I have not been fortunate enough to find its nest, I am 

 aware that it breeds as early in ihe season as the Black-breasted 

 Quail, as I shot a female last May, containing an egg ready for 

 laying. It was of a pale greenisH colour, and much smaller than the 

 egg of the other bird. They are sometimes to be seen in confine- 

 ment, but being of a very wild nature they do not adapt them- 

 selves to this sort of life* This is one of the most widely 

 distributed of Asiatic quails, ranging from China and Assam* 

 through India as far as the South of Australia. 



Turnix Pugnax (gykes.) The Black-breasted Quail. 

 This bird may be said to be the commonest of our game 

 birds. It is very plentiful in the Cinnamon, and would make 

 capital sport if one could only bring a setter to bear upon it. 

 The females, which might be styled the amazons of quails, being 

 the handsomest and the most pugnacious of the two sexes, may 

 often be seen in the " Circular" engaged in a stand-up fight, 

 and so bent are the little combatants on having the last blow, 

 that I have heard of one or two instances of their nearly having 

 been caught while settling their quarrels. Layard has found 

 the eggs as early as February, and I have had young birds 



* Since this went to print, I have discovered a pair of these birds in. 

 the scrub under the ramparts of the Fort at Galle, 



