THE HEMIPODES OR 

 THREE-TOED QUAILS 



(HEMIPODII). 



The Hemipodes, which are famiharly 

 known in India as Bustard- and Button- 

 Quails, have the external appearance of 

 the True Quails, but differ from them 

 and from all the Gallinaceous birds by the 

 absence (as far as the Indian species are 

 concerned) of a hind toe. They are 

 therefore easily recognised by this char- 

 acter, and their small size. 



It is a remarkable fact in the history 

 of these birds that the females are larger 

 and more handsomely coloured than 

 the males. These latter moreover perform 

 all the duties of incubating the eggs and 

 rearing the young, while the females 

 remain idle, or fight amongst themselves 

 for the possession of the males. 

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