TIIREE-TG£t> OR BUSTAREHQUAILS. 287 



"The young run as soon as they are hatched, and their 

 appearance then assimilates so closely to that of the young 

 Partridges and Quails that they can scarcely be distinguished. 



" The food of this species consists of insects, grain, and 

 berries ; of the former many kinds are eaten, but locusts and 

 grasshoppers form the principal part ; a considerable quantity 

 of S3nd is also found in the gizzard, which is verj- thick and 

 muscular." 



Nest. — A slight cavity, lined with dried grasses, close to a tuft 

 of grass. 



Eggs. — Four in number ; wide ovals, slightly pointed at the 

 smaller end, and marked much as in the other species, but the 

 markings are generally vQry fine. Average measurement, iiz 

 by o'88 inch. 



XX. THE CHESTNUT-BACKED BUSTARD-QUAIL. TURNIX 



CA5TANONOTA. 



Hemipodius casfanotus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1S39, p. 145; id. B. 



Austr. V. pi. 85 (1S4S). 

 Turnix casta?ionota, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 

 552 (1893)" 



Adult Male. — Like the di&a\t female, but somewhat smaller. 



AdTilt Female. — General colour above uniform dull light red, 

 most of the feathers of the upper back with black and white 

 edges, with some black blotches ; wing-coverts ornamented 

 with black and white ocelli ; eyebrow-stripes and sides of the 

 face white, tipped with black ; chin and throat white ; chest and 

 breast grey, with white shaft-stripes ; sides light red with 

 irregular white black-edged ocelli ; rest of under-parts whitish- 

 buff. Bill very stout. Total length, 6 inches ; wing, 3-6 ; 

 tail, I "5 ; tarsus, 0*9. 



Eange. — Northern Australia. 



Habits.— Mr. Gilbert says :— '-This species inhabits the sides of 



