Part 49

With the exception of S. Sinensis, this species is the least of the genus yet discovered; it moreover differs from them all in the absence of any varied markings, in lieu of which all the feathers of the upper surface have a broad bluish grey stripe down the middle; in this blue colouring it evinces an affinity to the S. Sinensis, and in all probability other species intermediate between the two will yet be discovered.

Two specimens are all that have come under my notice; both of which were received from South Australia.

Its habits doubtless resemble those of the other members of the genus, but nothing is at present known respecting them.

General plumage dark brown, minutely freckled with black, each feather of the upper and under surface with a broad stripe of bluish grey down the centre; feathers of the head and back of the neck with a spot of blackish brown at the tip, those down the centre of the head and a few of the back-feathers with white shafts; chin buff; flank-feathers with an arrow-head-shaped mark of black near the tip.

The figures are of the natural size.

SYNOÏCUS CHINENSIS.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

SYNOÏCUS? CHINENSIS. Chinese Quail.

Perdix Chinensis, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 652.

Coturnix excalfatoria, Temm. Pig. et Gall., 8vo, tom. iii. pp. 516 and 743.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. xi. p. 371.

Tetrao Chinensis, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 277.—Ib. Gmel. Edit., vol. i. p. 765.—Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 324.

Coturnix Philippensis, Briss. Orn., vol. i. p. 454. sp. 17. tab. 25. fig. 1.—Ib. 8vo, vol. i. p. 71.

Fraise, ou Caille de la Chine, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. ii. p. 478.—Ib. Sonn. Edit., tom. vii. p. 104.—Bonnat. Tab. Ency. Orn., 223. pl. 96. fig. 3.

Chinese Quail, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. iv. p. 783.—Edw. Glean., pl. 247.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. viii. p. 318.

Coturnix Chinensis, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 509.

Caille des Philippines, Buff. Pl. Enl., 126. fig. 2. female.

Perdix Manillensis, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 655. female.

Tetrao Manillensis, Gmel. Ed. Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 764. female.

La petite Caille de l’Ile de Luçon, Sonn. Voy., p. 54. pl. 24. female.

Petite Caille de Manille, Sonn. Edit. Buff. Ois., tom. vii. p. 142.—Bonnat. Tab. Ency. Orn., p. 221. pl. 97. fig. 4.

Manilla Quail, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. iv. p. 790.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. viii. p. 321. female.

Chaun-chun of the Chinese.

Piker or Pikan of the Sumatrans and Javanese.

The rounder form of the wing of this bird prevents me from retaining it with any degree of propriety in the genus Coturnix; I have therefore placed it provisionally in that of Synoïcus, with the members of which section its contour will be found to assimilate.

This is one of the few species of Australian birds that I have not personally seen in a state of nature, which is the more singular as I have received skins from nearly every locality. I have ascertained, however, that at some seasons it is very numerous in such low and humid districts as are clothed with dense and luxuriant grasses and other vegetable productions, but beyond this nothing more is known of its history.

The sexes are so different in colour, that, as will be seen by the synonyms given above, they have been regarded and described by some of the older writers as distinct species, the male being adorned with a much gayer attire than almost any other of the smaller Gallinaceæ, while the garb of the female resembles that of the Common Quail in its tints and markings.

Latham states that in China it is often seen in flocks of a hundred together, and that as well as the Common Quail it is used to warm the hands in winter, as may be seen in various drawings and paper-hangings from China.

The male has the crown of the head and upper surface brown, irregularly spotted with black, some of the feathers with a narrow stripe of buff down the centre; wings brown, the coverts broadly margined with chestnut-brown; sides of the head, breast and flanks fine grey; throat black; within the black on each side an oblong patch, and on its lower part a crescent-shaped mark of white; abdomen and under tail-coverts deep rich chestnut-red; irides hazel; bill black; feet flesh-brown.