BUSH QUAILS. 



301 



Sub-Family III. 

 THE BUSH QUAILS. TURNICIN.E. 



General Characteristics. — 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. 



The Bush Quails are found in Southern 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 



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FiG. 133.— The African Bush Quail {Turnix Africaiins). 



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 two or three feet of the ground, and then dropping 

 to the earth to conceal themselves among the herbage, or run with 

 great swiftness until they consider themselves safe from pursuit. 

 The nest is composed of grasses, and is placed in a hollow on the 



