11 
1921.] Birds of North-East Chihli. 
found the bird crouching in a corner of the cage as if it 
wanted to lay or incubate. I thereupon put a quantity of 
dry grass into the cage, which the Quail took immediate 
possession of, hollowing out a depression and taking the 
grass and throwing it over its back so as to form a dome to 
the nest. Next day the Hemipode appeared to have given 
up the idea of laying, but on the 16th I discovered hidden 
among the grass a miniature egg, apparently laid the previous 
day, as that same day at noon I found a second egg, this 
one about one-third the usual size, also hidden away among 
the grass. None was laid on the 17th, but on the 18th 
I found a third egg, resembling the second one in size. No 
others were laid, and the calling became less frequent and 
intense. I was unfortunately unable to procure a male. 
The Hemipode, on being shown a skin of one of its own 
species, became greatly excited, puffed out its feathers, 
bowed and “kreked” as if pleased. O 11 the 31st of the 
month, I happened to pick up another female, slightly 
wounded in the wing, which, when healed, I placed in the 
cage, together with the other Turnix and two male Coturnix 
japonica. The Turnix , beyond giving the newcomer a 
gentle peck now and then during the first day, did not 
attempt to molest it, and the four birds lived in harmony 
until the 16th of July, when one of the Japanese Quail, a 
young bird of the previous year, was found killed (by the 
other male probably). The new Turnix showed signs of 
wanting to lay soon after it had been placed with the others, 
and on the 21st of June I found three eggs laid by it. On 
the 22nd, 26th, 27th and 28th, four more eggs were found, 
presumably laid by the same bird. On the 6th of July I 
found another. All these were very small eggs, much under 
half size ; but on the 17th, a much larger egg, about half 
size, was found, and on the 20th and 21st two more minia¬ 
ture eggs. On the 23rd of July I had to take the new 
Turnix out of the cage as it was badly pecked about the 
head, evidently by the old bird. When the Japanese Quail 
remained alone with the latter, it made violent love to it 
and attempted to pair, but without any encouragement from 
