Quails. 
327 
slid Is were also broken up and mostly consumed. Those who 
ha\(^ bred this species find that they will brook no interfer- 
(iiice with their nest, deserting it and eating the eggs upon 
llie Itsast provocation, but left to themselves, they will usually 
carry out the duties of incul)ation and rearing of their young 
successfully — very many of those hatched out succumb during 
llie lirst few days if the season be cold and wet. 
The species appeared to me to feed exactly as my 
I'ainted and Common (Quails, though perhaps keener on cap- 
turing any insects venturing into their enclosure — all the joints 
of the brickwork, round their enclosure were carefully searched for 
insects several times daily — flies basking m the sun, hunting 
spiders, and small beetles were greedily snapped up and though 
they frequently had to bound upward to reach the insect, they 
but seldom failed to capture it. The call note is a double one. 
THE HARLEQUl^J (^UAIL.* 
This is a very handsome African species; it is so 
similar to tlie preceding species that a detailed description is 
not called for. It will sufllce to say that it is easily distinguished 
therefrom l)y the under parts being mostly chestnut with a 
black breast patch and its larger size. Total length ti inches, 
tail 1. The female may also be disthiguished by her buliish- 
rufous under parts. 
This is cetainly one of the most beautiful of the true 
(Quails and is not a frequently imported species, though common 
m South and West Africa. 
f found them tame and confiding but owing to the 
absence of living cover they showed no inclination to nest, save 
dropping eggs about the aviary; but in the natural aviaries 
of some of our members they have bred fi-eely; incubation 
lasts from fifteen to sixteen days, and at the age of from 7 
to 8 weeks the young are in full adult plumage and soon 
begin to fight for the hens. 
The call note is a triple one. Food and treatment 
same as for the other species. 
To be continued. 
*Coturnix delegorguei 
