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