BLANFORD^S BUTTON-QUAIL. 
335 
found in small coveys^ the males separate from the females. About June 
these Quails commence to breed; and then they are found only singly or 
in pairs. They are difficult to flush; but when they rise they fly well^ just 
skimming over the tops of the grass ; it is almost impossible to make them 
rise a second time. The female constructs a nest which is merely a pad 
of grass either on the ground or in a clump of grass. I found a nest in the 
latter situation at Myitkyo in July^ containing five eggs ; they were olive- 
brown speckled with reddish brown. 
Family TURNICIDiE. 
Genus TUENIX, Bonn, 
689. TURNIX MACULOSA. 
BLANFOKD^S BUTTON-QUAIL. 
Hemipodius maculosus, Temm. Pig. et Gall. iii. p. 631. Turnix maculatus, 
Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxxv. p. 47 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, 
p. 398. Turnix blanfordii, J3l. J. A. S. B. xxxii. p. 80 ; Bl. ^- Wald. B. Burm. 
p. 151. Turnix maculosa, Hume, S. F. ii. p. 281, iii. p. 179 ; Hume 8f Dav. 
S. F. vi. p. 452 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. Ill ; Hume 8f Marsh. Game Birds, ii. 
p. 183, pi. ; Bingham, 8. F. ix. p. 196 Oates, S. F. x. p. 236. 
Description. — Male and female. Upper plumage rufous^ black and yel- 
low, the first two preponderating^ and the yellow not disposed in streaks 
but rather in oval drops ; wing-coverts yellowish buflp with large black 
spots j the hind neck and upper back frequently all rufous, forming a broad 
collar ; crown of head blackish, with a pale rufous mesial line ; sides of the 
head bufi' barred with black ; chin and throat buffy white ; breast, sides of 
the body, vent, flanks and under tail-coverts ferruginous ; the sides of the 
breast and the sides of the body with large spots of black, which are either 
round, oval or lunate. 
The disposition of the colours of the upper plumage varies exceedingly ; 
but this Quail may be said to be characterized by the absence of the con- 
spicuous yellow streaks so apparent in the other species. 
Legs and claws yellow ; upper mandible dark brown ; lower mandible 
aud gape pale brown tinged with yellow ; iris white. 
Length 6*5 inches, tail 1*6, wing 3*5, tarsus -9, bill from gape "75. The 
female is much larger, the wing reaching to nearly 4 inches in length. 
