Quails. 
83 
The Black-ih KOA 1 ED Busi'ARij Ol'aii, was kept by Mr. 
Seth Smith in 1903, hut cHd not attempt to breed with him. The 
Zoo have also liad it. This is another bird well worth a place in 
our aviaries, and one with which to win a breeding medal, too. 
The ( Hiails of .Australia number about fourteen si)ecies 
and sub-species, of which six belong to the T uniicidac . (Jf these 
only tin-ee species, as far as I have been able to ascertain, hav.- 
reached this country, and all have been bred by that most suc- 
cessful of aviculturists, Mv. David Seth Smith. 
The Swamp Quail (Synocciis aiistralis ) was bred in 
1905: see Avicultural Magazine , Vol 3, X.S. According to 
(Jould four sub-species are foun din various parts of the Austra- 
lian continent, and they differ very little from each other. It is a 
free breeder in captivity, but does not very often come over. 
Its eggs are dull creamy-white, sometimes without markings, 
and somtimes minutely freckled all over with buff . 
The Stup.iu.k Quail (Cotuniix pcctoralis) very closely 
resembles C. communis, and its habits are exactly similar. It 
was bred in 1906 — Aincultural Magazine, Vol. iv, N.S. Its eggs 
are indistinguishable from those of our common bird. 
The X'arikgated Bustard Quail (Turnix z'aria ) is an 
interesting bird, whose habits are practically identical with those 
of the Indian Turnicidae already described. It was bred in 1905 — 
Avicultural Magazine. Vol. 3, N.S. Its eggs, four in number, 
are glossy white, spotted and blotched, especially at the larger 
end, with slatey-blue, and speckled all over with minute specks 
of brown. 
Africa is the least favoured of the continents, outside of 
our own, as far as the family of quails is concerned. It posses- 
ses three members of the Turnicidae. including the European 
species Turnix sylvaiica. and four of. the true quails including 
Coturnix communis. Of these only three .seem to have been 
imported of recent years. These are : — 
The Cape 
The Harlequin 
The Painted 
Cotuniix africana 
C. dclcgorgiici. 
Excaljactoria adaiusoiii, 
