44 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
9. Black-breasted Quail Turnix melanogaster Gould 
Tur'-nix—L., turnix , quail: mel'-an-o-gas'-ter— Gk, melas ( melanos ), 
black; Gk, gaster, belly. 
distribution. Eastern Australia, from Rockingham Bay to 
northern New South Wales. 
notes. Also called Black-fronted Quail. A very rare species; inhabits 
the thick scrubs, rarely going beyond the outer fringes of the scrub. 
It is similar in habits to the Painted Quail. The bird figured is a 
female; the male has a brown crown and a whitish throat. 
nest. A depression in the ground under a low bush or tussock of 
grass; lined with grasses. 
eggs. Three or four, pale buffy-white, minutely and thickly freckled 
all over with light vinous-brown, with which are intermingled spots 
and blotches of chestnut-brown, purplish-grey, and black, also under¬ 
lying markings of faint lilac-grey. Breeding-season: probably February 
or March. 
10. Painted Quail Turnix varia Latham 
vaf-i-a— L., varius, different. 
distribution. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South 
Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Varied Quail, Scrub Quail, and Dotterel Quail. 
Inhabits open forest, heath-lands, lightly timbered ridges, also big 
scrub, and is usually in pairs or family parties. It is partly nocturnal, 
and has a booming note somewhat resembling that of the Bronze-wing 
Pigeon. The female is slightly larger than the male. 
nest. A shallow depression, scratched in the ground; thinly lined 
with fine dried glasses, and placed beneath the shelter of a tuft of 
grass, low bush, or rank herbage. 
eggs. Usually four, faint buffy to greyish-white, almost obscured 
with freckles, dots, and spots of chestnut or wood-brown, dull violet, 
and slaty-grey markings. Breeding-season: September to February 
(eastern Australia). 
11. Chowchilla (Northern Log-runner) Orthonyx spaldingi Ramsay 
— 11A. Female 
Or'-thon-yx—Gk, orthos , straight; Gk, onyx , claw: spaldingi —Edward 
Spalding, collector and taxidermist, Queensland. 
distribution. Northern Queensland (Cairns district). 
notes. Also called Spalding's Spinetail. Inhabits the dense scrubs 
of the mountain ranges, usually in small parties; it is shy and very 
noisy, and is more often heard than seen. Call, a series of notes, like 
"Chow-chilla-chow-chow-chUla”. It is also said to be a wonderful 
mimic, capable of imitating almost any sound. Food: insects, worms, 
and berries. 
nest. A dome-shaped structure with an entrance at the side, com- 
