Part 16

HEMIPODIUS PYRRHOTHORAX: _Gould_.

_J. & E. Gould del._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._ ]

HEMIPODIUS PYRRHOTHORAX, _Gould_. Red-chested Hemipode.

_Hemipodius pyrrhothorax_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., November 10, 1840.

Little as is known of the Swift-flying Hemipode, even less information has been obtained respecting the history of the present species, which, although assimilating in some of its characters to the former, differs from it in the marking of the face and neck, and the rufous colouring of the fore part of the throat and chest: it is also somewhat more slender and elegant in its proportions. It first came under my notice while traversing the flats near Aberdeen, on the Upper Hunter, when my dog pointing at what I conceived to be a specimen of the preceding species, a female of the present bird arose before me, and I at once saw, from the rufous colouring of the breast, that it differed from any I had previously seen: my shot was a successful one, and it was with no small delight that I picked up the beautiful bird, from which the accompanying drawing of the female was taken. I diligently sought for others, but was not fortunate enough to meet with a second living specimen. For the little male which enables me to complete my Plate, I am indebted to Mr. Charles Coxen, who had killed it some years before in the neighbourhood of the Liverpool Plains, but who could give me no further information respecting it: he had never seen the female. Of its habits and nidification of course nothing is therefore known: when the distant interior is explored, its true habitat will doubtless be discovered, but until then its history must remain buried in obscurity.

Crown of the head dark brown, with a line of buff down the centre; feathers surrounding the eye, ear-coverts and sides of the neck extremely small, white edged with black; back and rump dark brown, transversely rayed with bars and freckles of black and buff; wings paler, edged with buff, within which is a line of black running in the same direction; primaries brown, margined with buff; throat, chest, flanks and under tail-coverts sandy red, passing into white on the centre of the abdomen; bill horn-colour; irides straw-yellow; feet yellowish white.

The male has a similar character of markings on the upper surface, but the colouring of the throat and flanks is much paler.

The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size.

HEMIPODIUS VELOX, _Gould_. Swift-flying Hemipode.

_Hemipodius velox_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Nov. 10, 1840.

_Kar-a-dong_, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia.

_Little Quail_, of the Colonists.

I found this new and interesting species of _Hemipodius_ abundant in various parts of New South Wales, but whether it has always visited those localities, or has only recently made its appearance there, I cannot say. Mr. Stephen Coxen, on whose estate it was plentiful, and who, it is well known, has for some years paid considerable attention to the Ornithology of Australia, could give me no information respecting it, and it would appear to have escaped the notice of collectors generally, for I have never seen a specimen in any collection either public or private. I clearly ascertained that it is strictly migratory, by finding it abundant in those places in summer which I had previously visited in winter, when no appearance of one was to be seen.

The season of more than usual luxuriance that followed the long and distressing drought of 1838–39, bringing in its train a number of rare and interesting species, was highly advantageous to the objects of my expedition. It was to this season of plenty, when the whole face of the country was covered with the richest vegetation, that I am inclined to attribute the appearance of vast numbers of this species over the district of the whole Upper Hunter, particularly in the flats of Segenho, Invermein, and Yarrundi. It appeared to give preference to the low stony ridges which border and intersect these flats, and which are thinly covered with grasses of various kinds, for it was in such situations I generally found it, though on some occasions I started it from among the rank herbage clothing the alluvial soil of the bottoms. It lies so close as to be nearly trodden upon before it will rise, and when flushed it flies off with such extreme rapidity, as, combined with its small size and the intervention of trees, to render it a most difficult shot to the sportsman. On rising it flies to the distance of one or two hundred yards within two or three feet of the surface, and then suddenly pitches to the ground. As might be expected, it lies well to a pointer, and it was by this means that I found many which I could not otherwise have started.

One of the most singular circumstances connected with the history of this and the following species, is the great difference in the size of the sexes, the males being but little more than half the size of their mates. Pleased as I was at making acquaintance with this little bird, I was still more gratified at finding its nest and eggs. Natty and Jemmy, two intelligent and faithful natives, of the Yarrundi tribe, and who always accompanied me, also caught several of the young which had not left the nest many days.

In addition to the districts above named, I observed it, although rarely, in the interior of the country north of the Liverpool Plains. Before I left Sydney a single specimen was sent me from South Australia, and in my recently arrived collection from Swan River I found both the bird and its eggs; these circumstances proving that it possesses a range of longitude extending from one side of the continent to the other, and in all probability it inhabits a great portion of the northern interior. In Western Australia it is stated to inhabit clear open spots of grass, and may occasionally be met with in the thick scrub, but its most favourite retreat is the grassy valleys of the interior adjacent to water.

It breeds in September and October. The nest is slightly constructed of grasses placed in a shallow depression of the ground under the shelter of a small tuft of grass: the eggs are four in number, of a dirty white, very thickly blotched all over with markings of chestnut, eleven lines and a half long by nine lines broad: the eggs from Western Australia are much lighter in colour, and have the chestnut blotchings much more minute.

The stomach is extremely muscular, and the food consists of grasshoppers and other insects, seeds, etc.

Head, ear-coverts, and all the upper surface chestnut-red; the crown of the head in some specimens has a longitudinal mark of buff down the centre; the feathers of the back, rump, scapularies, and sides of the chest margined with buff, within which is a narrow line of black running in the same direction; the feathers of the lower part of the back are also crossed by several narrow irregular bands of black; primaries light brown, margined with buff on their internal edges; throat, chest, and flanks sandy buff, passing into white on the abdomen; bill horn-colour; irides straw-white; legs and feet yellowish white.

The above is the description of a female: the male has the feathers on the sides of the chest conspicuously margined with buff.

The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size.

COTURNIX PECTORALIS, _Gould_. Pectoral Quail.

_Coturnix pectoralis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 8; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part II.—List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part III. p. 40.

_Stubble Quail_ of the Colonists of Van Diemen’s Land.

In Van Diemen’s Land, South Australia and New South Wales, the present species is very abundant; I have also received specimens from Western Australia and a single example from the north coast, from both of which localities the specimens are smaller, and have a more buffy tint pervading the under surface; I am not, however, prepared to affirm that they are specifically distinct from the bird here figured, although I am disposed to regard them as such. Open grassy plains, extensive grass flats, and those parts of the country under cultivation, are situations favourable to the habits of the bird; in its economy and mode of life, in fact, it so closely resembles the Quail of Europe (_Coturnix communis_), that a description of one is equally descriptive of the other. In South Australia it may be found on all the extensive plains to the north of Adelaide; I sometimes flushed a single bird without finding another in the neighbourhood, while at others I met with it in pairs or in small parties of from four to six in number. Although occasionally found in the immediate neighbourhood, it affects totally different situations from those frequented by the _Synoïcus Australis_, which goes in coveys, and which differs but little in its habits from the Common Partridge (_Perdix cinerea_). Its powers of flight are considerable, and when flushed, it wings its way with arrow-like swiftness to a distant part of the plain; it lies well to a pointer, and has from the first settlement of the colony always afforded considerable amusement to the sportsman. I need scarcely say that it is an excellent bird for the table, equalling as it does in this respect its European representative. During my rambles in the districts frequented by this Quail, I frequently found its nest and eggs, which bear a strong resemblance to those of our own Quail; much variation, however, exists in their colouring, some being largely blotched all over with brown on a straw-white ground, while from this to a finely peppered marking every variety occurred; the number of eggs in each nest varied from eleven to fourteen. The situations chosen for the nest are also very various; I sometimes found it placed among the thick grass of the luxuriant flats, while at others it was artfully concealed by a tuft of overhanging grass on the open plains, where the temperature was of a much warmer character, and where, from the exposed situation, the sun’s rays caused a degree of heat never felt in the humid situations just alluded to. The chief food of this species is grain, seeds and insects, the grain as a matter of course being only procured in cultivated districts; and hence the name of Stubble Quail has been given to it by the colonists of Van Diemen’s Land, from the great numbers that visit the fields after the harvest is over.

September and the three following months constitute the breeding-season; but it is somewhat later in Van Diemen’s Land than in South Australia and New South Wales.

The average weight of the male is four ounces and a half; the female, which rarely equals her mate in size, may at all times be distinguished by the total absence of the black markings on the chest, and by the throat being white instead of buff.

The male has the lores, ear-coverts and throat buff; crown of the head and back of the neck deep brown; over each eye two parallel lines of yellowish white; a similar line down the centre of the head from the forehead to the nape; back of the neck brown, each feather marked down its centre with a lanceolate mark of yellowish white, blotched on each side with black; mantle, back and upper tail-coverts brown, transversely rayed with zigzag markings of black, and striped down the centre with lanceolate markings of yellowish white; wings brown, transversely rayed with zigzag lines of grey and black; primaries and centre of the chest black; sides of the chest brown; abdomen white, each feather marked down its centre with black; flanks rich brown, the centre of each feather white, bounded on either side by a fine line of black; bill black; irides hazel; feet pearly vinous white.

The female differs in being destitute of the black marks on the chest, in the throat being white instead of buff, and in the bill being olive instead of black.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size.

SYNOÏCUS AUSTRALIS. Australian Partridge.

_Perdix Australis_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. lxii.

_Coturnix Australis_, Temm. Pig. et Gall. 8vo, tom. iii. pp. 474 and 740.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. xi. p. 373.—Vieill. Gal. des Ois., pl. 215.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 508.

_New Holland Quail_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 283.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. viii. p. 306.

_Moo-ȑeete_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.

_Brown Quail_, Colonists of Swan River and Van Diemen’s Land.

The present species will at all times claim more than ordinary attention from the colonists of Australia, from the circumstance of its being the representative in that country of the Common Partridge of the British Islands, so renowned for the goodness of its flesh, and for the healthy pastime it annually affords during the shooting season to all who are attached to and follow the sports of the field. Although much more diminutive in size, the present species offers in many points of its economy a great similarity to its antipodean ally. I believe that several species of this intermediate form exist in Australia; if, however, my surmise should prove to be incorrect, and it should be found that the Partridges over all parts of the country are merely varieties of each other, then it may be stated that the present species is an inhabitant of every known part of Australia, the north coast even not being without its presence; but if, on the other hand, it should be discovered that they are several distinct species, then the habitat of the present bird will be restricted to New South Wales, South Australia and Van Diemen’s Land, over the whole of which countries it is plentifully dispersed; the localities most suited to its habits being thick grassy flats and humid spots overgrown with herbage, by the sides of rivers and water-holes. Its call is very similar to that of the Common Partridge, and like that bird it is found in coveys of from ten to eighteen in number, which simultaneously rise from the ground and pitch again within a hundred yards of the spot whence they rose. It sits so close, that it will often admit of being nearly trodden upon before it will rise. Pointers stand readily to it, and it offers perhaps better sport to the sportsman than any other bird inhabiting Australia. Its weight is about four ounces and three quarters, and its flesh is delicious.

The Australian Partridge breeds on the ground, where it constructs a slight nest of grass and leaves; the eggs, which are of large size, and from ten to eighteen in number, are sometimes uniform bluish white, at others minutely freckled all over with buff.

The sexes differ but little in their colouring, neither do the young birds from the adult, except that the markings are somewhat broader and more distinct.

Forehead, space between the bill and the eye, and the throat greyish white, with a tinge of buff; all the upper surface irregularly marked with beautiful transverse bars of grey, black and chestnut, each feather on the back having a fine stripe down the centre; shoulders greyish brown, the remainder of the wing marked with obscure transverse lines of grey, brown and black; primaries brown, mottled on the external edges with greyish brown; all the under surface buffy grey, each feather having numerous zigzag markings of black, and many of them having a very fine line of white down the centre; bill blue, deepening into black at the tip; irides orange; feet dull yellow.

The figures are of the natural size.

SYNOÏCUS DIEMENENSIS, _Gould_. Van Diemen’s Land Partridge.

_Synoïcus Diemenensis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., March, 1847.

_Greater Brown Quail_ of the Colonists.

During my visit to Van Diemen’s Land I was frequently informed that there were two kinds of Quail besides the stubble and painted Quails, the former of which is a true _Coturnix_ and the latter a _Hemipodius_, while the two birds referred to belong to neither of those genera, but to that of _Synoïcus_. They are distinguished as the greater and lesser Brown Quail, and sometimes the name of Partridge was given to the bird here figured, doubtless from its going in coveys and resembling the Common Partridge of Europe in many of its actions: I failed in my endeavours to obtain examples, but I was fortunate enough to procure its nest and eggs, which differed so much from those of the common species as to convince me that they had been laid by a different bird: on a late visit to Paris, I found at the house of M. Verreaux several specimens of the bird itself, which had been sent to him by his brother direct from Van Diemen’s Land, and which being placed at my disposal enable me to give figures of both species. It is fully a third larger in size than the _S. Australis_, and has the markings of the upper surface more numerous and varied; the situations it affects appear to be low marshy grounds covered with dense masses of herbage. The eggs I procured were found in the swamps immediately below New Norfolk; they are more green than those of _S. Australis_, are sprinkled all over with minute spots of brown, and are from twelve to eighteen in number, one inch and seven-sixteenths long by one inch and an eighth broad. I feel more than ever convinced, that the birds of the form to which the generic term _Synoïcus_ has been applied, constitute many more species than has hitherto been supposed.

Forehead, lores and chin greyish white tinged with buff; crown of the head dark brown, with a line of buff down the centre; all the upper surface irregularly marked with beautiful transverse bars of grey, black and chestnut, each feather with a fine stripe of greyish white down the centre; primaries brown, mottled on their external edges with greyish brown; all the under surface greyish buff, each feather with numerous regular somewhat arrow-shaped marks of black, and many of them with a very fine line of white down the centre; bill blue, deepening into black at the tip; irides orange; feet dull yellow.

The Plate represents the two sexes rather less than the size of life.

SYNOÏCUS SORDIDUS, _Gould_. Sombre Partridge.

_Synoïcus sordidus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XV. p. 33.

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. 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.

The female has a broad stripe over each eye sandy buff; crown of the head and all the upper surface dark brown, crossed by fine bars of lighter brown, and each feather, particularly those of the back and rump, with a line of buff down the centre; throat and centre of the abdomen buff; breast, sides of the neck, flanks and under tail-coverts sandy buff, crossed by numerous crescentic marks of blackish brown; irides dark brown; bill black; feet flesh-brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES