THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
breast ; also by the more pure white of the abdomen. Soft parts similar to those 
given in the female. Total length, 140 mm. ; culmen, 12 ; wing, 75 ; tail, 26 ; 
tarsus, 15. 
Nest. “ Formed of grass placed in a hollow of the ground behind some convenient tuft 
of grass ” (North). 
Eggs. Clutch, four ; ground-colour buffish-white thickly spotted with slate-grey, chestnut, 
and odd spots of purplish-brown ; surface with faint trace of gloss. Axis, 20 to 
21 mm. ; diameter, 16.5 to 17. 
Breeding season. The usual breeding season is from September to December, but 
individuals may be found breeding practically aU through the year. 
This bird is distributed all over the Australian Commonwealth except Tasmania. 
Mr. Keartland* gives us the following notes : — 
“ The home of the Swift-flying Tumix is undoubtedly the arid plains of 
Northern Australia, but they occasionally migrate southwards in great numbers. 
Owing to their small size and rapid flight they test the skill of the sportsman to 
the utmost. 
“ These birds are found in North-West Australia throughout the year, 
frequenting ahke the Flinders and Mitchell grass plains, the spinifex of the 
desert, and the tall kangaroo grass along the creek flats, but are most numerous 
near the junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. After rain falls they 
become exceedingly numerous in the green grass which immediately springs up. 
They seem to breed nearly all through the year.”! 
“ Great numbers of these birds were found throughout the grass country 
north of Charlotte Waters. At lUamurta on Mdy 30th, a clutch of hard-set 
eggs were found, and afterwards young birds were frequently picked up. At 
Petermann Creek half-grown young ones ran about our camp. Wherever grass 
was plentiful, particularly near Heavitree Gap and on Missionary Plains, they 
were also numerous.’’^ 
Mr. Sandland, writing from South Australia, remarks : — “ This bird occurs 
in good seasons. Durmg 1903-4 they came in thousands, and hundreds of nests 
were obtained. They all left before Christmas. They generally come in 
August.” 
Dr. G. Horn, Victoria, says : — “ This Quail does not always come to Victoria, 
but in 1905 it was very plentiful in the north-eastern part of this State. Their 
eyes appeared more nearly white than yellowish.” 
Mr. Tom Carter writes : — “These birds were very abundant in the North- 
West of Australia, especially in good seasons. They sit very closely and at 
times allow horses to walk over them without rising. They lay after rains at 
* Birds of the Melbourne District, p. 112 (1900). 
f Keartland, in Campbell’s Nests and Eggs Austr. B., p. 735 (1901). 
J Id., in R&p. Horn Sci. Exp., II., p. 103 (1896.) 
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