SOME BIRDS OF THE AIR AND OPEN SPACES 
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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. 
Eggs. —Usually four, greyish-white to a faint yellowish or light 
stone-grey, almost entirely hidden by very minute freckles of pale umber 
intermingled with other markings of varied shades of grey. Breeding- 
season: October to January or February. 
