594 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



very narrow, and with one deep notch. The furcula is very long 

 and compressed, and its bony edge reaches the front of the sternal 

 crest which is moderately raised. The stomach is muscular, and 

 the intestines rather short with moderately long coeca. 



The Indian members of this family may be placed in a distinct 

 sub -family. 



Sub-fam. TuRNiciNiE. 



Of diminutive size. Found in the old Continent and Australia. 

 Three toes in one genus ; the hind toe present in another.* 



Gen. TuRNix, Vieillot. 



Syn. Ortygis, 111. — Hemipodius, Reinwardt. 



Char. — Bill slender, of moderate length, straight, much com- 

 pressed, slightly curved at the tip ; nostrils linear; wings of 

 moderate length, with the first quill longest in some, or the first 

 three gently graduated ; tail feeble, short, concealed by the upper 

 coverts, of ten or twelve narrow feathers ; tarsus moderate or 

 rather long ; toes moderate or rather short, separated at tlie base ; 

 no hind toe. 



This genus is placed by Bonaparte and by Gray, in a sub- 

 family Tuniicince of the Perdicidce. 



These diminutive game-birds may be said to have their head 

 quarters in Australia, whence they spread into Malayana, India and 

 Africa, one species being even found in Spain. Those whosenidifi- 

 cation is known, lay several large eggs, dull brownish green with 

 numerous dusky spots; Blyth says only four, like Plovers and Snipe. 



Two types are discriminable, the one larger, with the plumage 

 much mottled and barred with black beneath ; the other smaller, 

 with the plumage more or less pale or fulvous, with spots. To 

 the latter, Gray restricts Turnix, applying Ortygis to the former, 

 which Bonaparte distinguishes under the name of Areoturnix. I 

 shall not adopt these divisions except as sections. 



1st — With the bill stronger, and the plumage of the females 

 black-barred on the throat and breast. Ortygis apud Gray, 

 Areoturnix, Bonap. In this section the females are larger than 



* Mr. Parker's interesting paper on the anatomy of these birds reached me too 

 late to incorporate here, but i will notice it in the Appendix. 



