TETRAONIDJE — PERDICm^ : OLD WORLD QUAIL. 
595 
lst-3d quills, the 1st not shorter than the next. First primary emarginate on inner web 5 2d 
and 3d sinuate on outer web. Tail extremely short and slight, not half as long as the wing, 
pointed, its feathers very soft, the central pair lanceolate. Feet small ; tarsus shorter than middle 
toe and claw, slightly feathered above in front, with two rows of alternating large scutella in 
front, two rows of smaller rounded scales meeting in a ridge behind, the sides filled in with 
small plates. Size smaller than that of any of the foregoing species ; pattern of coloration 
somewhat as in Ortyx ; sexes nearly alike. 
579, C. dactyli'sonans. (Gr. baKTvKos, daktulos, the finger; a metrical measure consisting of a 
long and two short syllables } Lat. sonans, sounding. Fig. 414.) Messina Quail. Migra- 
FiG. 414. — Common Quail of Europe, ^ nat. size. (From Brehm. ) 
TORY Quail. Common Quail of Europe. Adult ^ 9 : Upper parts variegated with buff 
or whitish and black upon a mixed reddish-brown and gray ground, the most conspicuous mark- 
ings being sharp lance-linear lengthwise stripes of buff or whitish over most of the upper parts, 
these dashes mostly edged with black ; other less prominent buff or whitish cross-bars, several 
to a feather, likewise framed in black. Crown mixed brown and black, with sharp median and 
lateral buff stripes. Throat white, bounded before by a dark bar curving down behind the 
auriculars ; behind, by a necklace of ruddy-brown, blackish, or whitish spots ; chin varied with 
dark marks in advance of the auricular bar. Under parts fading to whitish from the buff or 
pale yellowish-brown breast, without any dark crossbars, but the long feathers of the sides and 
flanks with large and conspicuous white shaft-stripes and otherwise variegated with black, 
