SOME BIRDS OF THE AIR AND OPEN SPACES 
193 
Eggs. — Usually four, whitish, minutely speckled, spotted, and blotched 
all over with markings of reddish-brown, bluish-grey, and black, the last 
two colours -being the most predominant. Breeding-season : March. 
14. Little Quail Turnix velox Gould 
ve-lox — L., velox , swift. 
Distribution. — Australia generally. 
Notes. — Also called Button Quail, Swift-flying Quail, Dotterel Quail, 
Butterfly Quail, and Thick-billed Quail. Usually in coveys, large or small, 
inhabiting the open plains. It is nomadic, its appearance being regulated 
by the rainfall; if the season is a good one, large flocks appear; in times 
of drought it seldom visits its old haunts. It lies close, and when flushed, 
flies short distances at a great speed. Generally the flocks scatter when 
disturbed, making it difficult to flush them again. Food : seeds and fine 
gravel. The female is larger than the male. 
Nest. — A slight depression in the ground, lined with grass; usually 
placed near and partly hidden by a tuft of grass. 
Eggs . — Usually four, buffy-white, thickly spotted with slate-grey, 
chestnut, and odd spots of purplish-brown. Breeding-season : September 
to December, but individuals may be found breeding practically through- 
out the year. 
15. Red-chested Quail Turnix pyrrhothorax Gould 
pyr-rho-tho -rax — Gk, pyrrhos, fire-coloured; Gk, thorax , chest. 
Distribution . — Northern, eastern, southern, and central Australia. 
Notes . — Also called Chestnut-breasted Quail and Yellow Quail. 
Usually in pairs or small coveys, inhabiting grass-lands, either in high dry 
country or river-flats. It is nomadic in habits. Food : seeds. 
Nest . — A slight depression in the ground, scantily lined with grasses, 
usually protected by a grass tuft or sheltered by a low shrub; sometimes 
situated in a grain crop. 
Eggs. — Usually four, buffy-white, spotted with slate-grey, chestnut, 
and dark brown markings. Breeding-season : September to December. 
16. Red-backed Quail Turnix maculosa Temminck — 16A. Female 
mac'-u-lo'-sa — L., maculosus , full of spots. 
Distribution. — Northern and eastern Australia to as far south as 
northern Victoria; also occurs in New Guinea. 
Notes. — Also called Black-backed Quail, Orange-breasted Quail, and 
Black-spotted Quail. Usually in pairs or small coveys, chiefly inhabiting 
low marshy lands studded with low scrub. It is a shy species, lies very 
close, and is very difficult to flush. Food : seeds. 
Nest . — A hollow in the ground, scantily lined with grass; sheltered 
by a tuft of grass, a low bush, or herbage. 
