380 



GALLIN.E, 



TURNICIN^. 



SUBFAMILY III. 



The Bush Quails. 



Gen. Chaeac. — Bill moderate, straight, and the sides compressed to the tip, 

 which slightly overhangs that of the lower mandible ; the nostrils lateral, 

 and placed in a nasal groove that reaches beyond half the length of the bill, 

 with the opening linear and protected by a long scale ; the wings rather 

 short and rounded; the tail short, and almost concealed by the dorsal 

 feathers ; the tarsi moderate and strong ; the toes usually three in number, 

 long, and free at their base, the outer toe longer than the inner. 



Fig, 153.— the African bush quail. 

 (Tuniix Africanus ) 



The Busli Quails are found in Soutliern Europe, 

 India, Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. They 

 are generally met with in small parties or in pairs, 

 and frequent open places near rivers, or such as 

 are thinly covered with grasses. They usually lie 

 so close to the ground that it is difficult to discover 

 them; and when flushed they make off with a rapid 

 flight, but only to a short distance, flying within 



