THE LITTLE BUTTON QUAIL.
Males.—Length, 5-2 to 5-4 ; expanse, 9-5 to io-5 ; wing, 276
to 2-9; tail from vent, 1*25 to 1*35; tarsus, 07 to 072 ; bill
from GAPE,0*5 to 0'55 ; weight, l"l ozs to 1*4 ozs.
Females.—Length, 5*4 to 57; expanse, 9/8 to 107; wing,
2'8 to 3*0 ; tail from vent, 1*3 to i'5 ; tarsus, 07 to 075 ; bill
from gape, 0"SI toO'56 ; weight, 1*25 to 1*5 ozs.
These measurements, taken from only six birds, and two of
these, I suspect, not quite adults, probably do not adequately
represent the limits within which the dimensions of this species
vary.
The legs and feet vary from pale fleshy white to light lead
colour ; the bills from leaden white to lavender or plumbeous ;
the irides are light yellow to straw white.
T H E PLATE very fairly represent the specimens figured. The
figure in the background to the right is a very accurate likeness
of a young bird. The figures in the foreground both represent
females. In the males there is scarcely any rufous in the plumage,
this being replaced hy a slightly rufescent brown; indeed, the
males arc altogether somewhat duller coloured than the females.
The two adult females figured happen to be particularly
brightly coloured specimens, and the central bird has a number of
bright rufous splashes on the side of the breast which are
rarely so much developed. It is a pity that no front view
of the bird is given. The chin and throat are pure white ; the
middle of the breast slightly rusty buff, the sides of the breast
very pale buff, with two or three rows of nearly round blackish
brown spots.