THE COROMANDEL QUAIL. 117 
ihougli they pah' regularly, so soon as the female 
commences to sit, she is left alone, and the male at- 
tends no longer, nor afterwards assists in protecting 
the brood. They delight in cultivated countries, 
and never frequent woods. They are found in Eu- 
rope, Asia, Africa, and New Holland. The allied 
birds of America come under a different section. 
The pretty little species figured will give an ex- 
act idea of the form of the quails. It is rather less 
than the European species, being in length only 
about six inches. The upper parts somewhat resem- 
ble those of the common bird, but are more broad- 
ly marked, while the deep black markings on the 
lower parts at once distinguish it, and are beautifully 
relieved from the paler parts of the breast and belly. 
The female differs from the male in wanting the 
greater part of the black on the lower parts, indica- 
tions of the two bands on the throat being only seen. 
The breast is reddish-brown, the feathers with a 
black centre, and the other lower parts are of a dull 
white. This quail seems abundant, and is pretty 
generally distributed over the continent of India. 
Among the quails there are many beautifully mark- 
ed species, all of diminutive size. VVe shall only, 
however, be able to notice that of Europe, an occa- 
sional visitor to Britain. 
