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EXCALFATORIA CHINENSIS.

Chinese Quail.

Tetrao Chinensis, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 277.—Id. Gmel. edit., vol. i. p. 765 —Rafil. in Linn. Trans., vol. xill.
p. 324.

Coturniv Philippensis, Briss. Orn., vol. i. p. 454, sp. 17, tab. 25. fig. i.; (Svo.) vol. i. p. 71.—Bonnat. Tab. Ency.
Méth. Orn., part i. p. 223, pl. 96. fig. 3.

Perdix Chinensis, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. 11. p. 652.

Coturnix excalfatoria, Temm. Hist. Nat. des Pig. et Gall., 8vo, tom. iii. pp. 516, 743.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. xi.
Daorele

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

Coturniv Chinensis, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 509.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 507, Coturniw, sp. 14.—Blyth,
Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 255.

—— flavipes, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. xi. p. 808, female.

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

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

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

Petite Caille de Manille, Sonn. edit. Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vil. p. 142.

Coturnix Manillensis, Bonnat. Tab. Ency. Méth. Orn., part i. p. 221, pl. 97. fig. 4

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

Excalfatoria Chinensis, Bonap. Tabl. Parall. des Gall., Compt. Rend. de l’Acad. des Sci., tom. xlii. séance du 12
Mai 1856.—Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part. xxvii. (1859) p. 129.

 

Hiraerro a much wider range of habitat has been assigned to this beautiful little Quail than it really
enjoys; for it has been stated that it inhabits not only China, Assam, Burmah, and many parts of India, but
that it is also found in Australia; it will be seen, however, on reference to my Handbook to the birds of
that country, that I have separated the Australian species, and indicated the particulars in which it differs
from the bird inhabiting the other countries above mentioned. Admitting, then, that the Hwealfatoria
Chinensis is found over the whole of Malasia from China to Madras, its range is still a most extensive one.

Not having had an opportunity of seeing this species in any of its numerous haunts, I am unable to give
an account of its habits and economy as the result of my own personal observation. Dr. Jerdon,
however, has in a measure supplied this desideratum in his ‘ Birds of India,’ from which I take the liberty
of extracting the following passage :—

«This beautiful little Quail is found in many parts of India, but is generally rare, except in Bengal and
the adjacent provinces, is more common in Assam, and is very abundant in Burmah. I have killed it once
only in the Carnatic; and one specimen is included in my ‘ Catalogue of Birds from Belgaum, in Western
India.’ It occurs occasionally in Central India, and in the Upper Provinces as far as Bareilly, but it is rare
“n all those localities, and perhaps only stragglers find their way so far. In Lower Bengal it is tolerably
abundant in damp grassy meadows, the edges of Indigo-fields, and in the grass on roadsides; and in
Purmeah it was the only Quail I observed. It breeds in the month of July, the eggs being pale olive-green.
When the young are full-grown they disperse all over the country; and this dispersion is greatly assisted,
and, in many parts, perhaps, caused, by the heavy inundations to which a great part of the country m Bengal
is annually subjected, generally in August or September. In the cold season they are replaced by the
Grey Quail and the so-called Rain Quail.”

To this I may append the following extract from Latham’s ‘ General History of Birds,’ coupled with the
remark that I suspect he is in error when he says that this species is trained for fighting—a_ statement
which I believe applies to a species of Zurniw :—

‘‘Inhabits China, the Philippine Islands, and various parts of India; also Java and Sumatra, there called
Pikau; is often seen in flocks of one hundred together. This bird is used, as well as the Common Quail,
to warm the hands in winter, as may be seen in various drawings and paper-hangings from China, where
they are called Chau-chin. Many of these are purchased by Europeans to be made into pies on their voyage
home, and cost three kandarins a piece. They are said to be caught by means of a call-pipe, as in Enrope.
Both this and the Common Quail are trained to fight against each other, in the manner of Game-cocks in
Europe, and much money is lost and won upon such occasions.”

In size this species is somewhat larger than its Australian ally, from which it also differs in the lighter
colouring of the back and upper surface ; the tarsi, too, are much longer and stouter, and the toes more

lengthened.