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. [Illustration: SYNOÏCUS AUSTRALIS. _J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._ ] 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.