ANDALTJSIAN HEMIPODE. 131 



HEMIPODIl. TURNICIDjE. 



TuRNix S1LVATICA (Desfontaines*). 



THE ANDALUSIAN HEMIPODE. 



Hemipodius tachyclromus. 



TuRNix, Bonnnterref. — Beak moderate, slender, very compressed ; culmen 

 elevated and curved towards the point. Nostrils lateral, linear, longitudinally 

 cleft, partly closed by a membrane. Tarsus ratber long. Toes three before, 

 entirely divided ; no posterior toe. Tail composed of weak yielding feathers 

 clustered together, and concealed by the feathers of the back. Wings moderate 

 the first and second quill-feathers nearly equal, and the longest. 



The term HemijiocUus, signifying Half-foot, was applied 

 generically by M. Temminck, in 1815, to several species of 

 quail-like birds, but with three toes only, which, from their 

 very diminutive size were considered the pigmies among the 

 Gallinaceous birds: an order in which they have generally been 

 placed. After the light thrown upon their anatomy by the 



* Tctrao sylvaticus, Desfontaines, Mem. de I'Acad. Roy. desSc, 1787, p. 500, 

 pi. xiii. 



t Tableau Encycl. et Method., i. p. .^) (17!>0). 



