Bush Quails

( Originally Published Early 1900's )

Quite distinct are the little Bush Quails of the Indian peninsula and adjacent regions, none of which exceeds seven inches in length; they number five species disposed in two genera. The Jungle Bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica) is brown above, and white barred with black beneath, the throat and forehead being rufous-chestnut. Mr. Hume tells us that "moderately thick forests and jungles, hills, ravines, and broken ground, not too deficient in cover, and rich cultivation, if not in too damp and undrained situations, from near the sea level to an elevation of four to five thousand feet, are the ordinary resorts of the Jungle Bush Quail." They are usually found in coveys of from eight to a dozen and permit themselves to be almost trodden on before rising, which they do with a piping whistle and in an instant spread to all points of the compass. They lay from five to seven creamy or brownish white eggs in a rudely made nest of fine grass and rootlets.