THREE-TOED OR BUSTARD-QUAILS, 289 
Nest.—A shallow hollow lined with dry grass. 
Eggs.—Four in number; broad ovals; ground colour dull 
whitish, almost hidden by dense indistinct marking of chest- 
nut and greyish-brown. Measurements, 1°0 by 0°77 inch. 
XXII. THE SWIFT BUSTARD-QUAIL. TURNIX VELOX. 
Hemipodius velox, Gould, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 150; id. B. Austr. 
v. pl. 87 (1848). 
Turnix velox, Gould, Handb. Austr. B. ii. p. 184 (1865); 
North, Nests and Eggs B. Austr. p. 286 (1889); Ogilvie- 
Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 553 (1893). 
Adult Male——Similar to the adult fea/e, but rather smaller. 
Total length, 5°5.inches ; wing, 2°9; tail, 1°2; tarsus, 0:6. 
Adult Female—General colour above dud] bright red, shading 
into light red on the nape and crown of the head; the mark- 
ings very similar to those of Z. pyrrhothorax ; the sides of 
the head and chest pale light red ; the breast and rest of under- 
parts white. Bill very stout. Total length, 5:5 inches; wing, 
aco) tail, t°25*tarsus, o°7. 
Range.—Australia. 
Habits. — Mr. Gould says :—“ It appears to give preference to 
low stony ridges thinly covered with grasses, for it was in such 
situations that I generally found it, though on some occasions 
I started it from among the rank herbage clothing the alluvial 
soil of the bottoms. It lies so close as to be nearly trodden 
upon before it will rise, and when flushed flies off with such 
extreme rapidity, as, when its small size and the intervention 
of trees combine, to render it a most difficult shot to the 
sportsman. On rising, it flies to the distance of one or two 
hundred yards within two or three feet of the surface, and then 
suddenly pitches to the ground. As might be expected, it lies 
well to a pointer, and it was by this means that I found many 
which I could not otherwise have started. 
“It breeds in September and October.” 
12 U 
