182 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



much resembles the Turnix varius, but on comparison will be 

 found to be but little more than half the size of that species ; 

 besides which, its colouring is much lighter, more varied, and 

 sparkling, the white margins of the back-feathers are more 

 numerous and conspicuous, and the markings of the throat 

 and breast of a crescentic instead of an elongated form. 



Nothing whatever is known of its habits and economy, but 

 they doubtless closely resemble those of the other species of 

 the genus. 



The whole of the upper surface is light chestnut-red, each 

 feather crossed by broad bars of brownish black, and margined 

 with grey, within which are two narrow lines of black and 

 white ; wing-coverts and tertiaries light chestnut-red, crossed 

 by irregular zigzag bars of black, the interspaces of the outer 

 margins greyish white ; chin and sides of the face white, with 

 a narrow crescent-shaped mark of brown at the tip of each 

 feather ; sides of the chest chestnut, each feather tipped with 

 white, within which is an indistinct mark of deep black ; 

 chest and under surface pale buify white, the feathers of the 

 chest with a row of dark grey spots on each margin, giving 

 that part a speckled appearance ; primaries brown, narrowly 

 edged with white ; irides reddish yellow ; bill greenish grey, 

 darkest on the culmen, and becoming ashy grey beneath ; legs 

 and feet orange-yellow. 



Male. — Total length 5 inches ; bill yj j wing 3^ ; tarsi yj. 



Female. „ 6 „ f „ 3J „ f. 



Sp. 481. TURNIX MELANOTUS, Gould. 



Black-backed Turnix. 



Hemipodius melanottis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 8. 

 Turnix melanotus, Gould in Grey's Trav. App., vol. ii. p. 419, note. 



Hemipodius melanotus, Gould, Bii'ds of Australia, foL, vol. v. pi. 84. 



Several years have now elapsed since 1 described this 

 species from a specimen received from Moreton Bay ; siiice 



V 



