Chap. X\ 1. THE YOUNG LIKE THE ADULT MALES. 201 



been acquired for the sake of protection during the 

 period of nesting. A different view seems to ine more 

 probable. As the cases are curious and not numerous, 

 I will briefly oiye all that I have been able to find. 



In one section of the genus Tnrnix, quail-like birds, 

 the female is invariably larger than the male (being 

 neaily twice as large in one of the Australian species) 

 and this is an unusual ch-cumstance with the Gallinacese. 

 In most of the species the female is more distinctly 

 coloured and brighter than the male,^* but in some 

 few species the sexes are alike. In Turnix taigoor of 

 India the male '* wants the black on the throat and neck, 

 "and the whole tone of the plumage is lighter and less 

 *' pronounced than that of the female." The female 

 appears to be more vociferous, and is certainly much 

 more pugnacious than the male ; so that the females 

 and not the males are often kept by the natives for 

 fighting, like game-cocks. As male birds are exposed 

 by the English bird-catchers for a decoy near a trap, 

 in order to catch other males by exciting their rivalry, 

 so the females of this Turnix are employed in India. 

 When thus exposed the females soon begin their " loud 

 " purring call, which can be heard a long way off, 

 " and any females within ear-shot run rapidly to the 

 " spot, and commence fighting with the caged bird." 

 In this way from twelve to twenty birds, all breeding- 

 females, may be caught in the course of a single 

 day. The natives assert that the females after laying 

 their eixas associate in flocks, and leave the males to 

 sit on them. There is no reason to doubt the truth 

 of this assertion, which is supported by some observa- 



^^ For the Australian tpecies, see Gould's ' Handbook,' &c., vol. ii. p. 

 178, 180, 18G. and 188. In the British IMuseum specimens of the 

 Australian Plain-wanderer (Pecliononnis torquatus) may be seen, show- 

 ino- similar sexual diflerences. 



