quail

n.

a bird which exists under some formall over the world. The Australian species are – – Black-breasted Quail – – Turnix melanogaster, Gould.

♣ Brown Q. – – Synoicus australis, Lath.[Called also Swamp-Quail.]

♣ Chestnut-backed Q. – – Turnix castanotus, Gould.

♣ Chestnut-bellied Q. – – Excalfatoria australis, Gould.

♣ Little Q. – – Turnix velox, Gould.

♣ Painted Q. – – T. varies, Lath. [ Haemipodius melinatus,Gould.]

♣ Red-backed Q. – – T. maculosa, Gould.

♣ Red-chested Q. – – T. pyrrhothorax, Gould.

♣ Stubble Q. – – Coturnix pectoralis, Gould.

In New Zealand there is a single species, Coturnixnovae-zelandiae, Quoy and Gaim.

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. ii.c. vii. p. 259:

«It is known to the colonists as the painted quail; and hasbeen called by Mr. Gould . . . Haemipodius melinatus.»

1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffrey Hamlyn,' p. 298:

«The painted quail, and the brush quail, the largest ofAustralian gamebirds, I believe, whirred away from beneaththeir horses' feet.»

1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 67:

«The swamp fowl and timorous quail . . .

Will start from their nests.»

1889. Prof. Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,'p. 117:

«This group also is represented by a single species, the NewZealand quail ( Coturnix Novae-Zelandiae), belonging to awidely distributed genus. It was formerly very abundant in NewZealand; but within the last fifteen or twenty years has beencompletely exterminated, and is now only known to exist on theThree Kings Island, north of Cape Maria Van Diemen.»