448 



Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant on the Genus Turnix. 



as dangerous to base a new species on a male specimen only 

 of any Turnix, as it would be to describe a female speci- 

 men of Phasianus or Excalfactoria as new witliout having 

 first seen the male. 



Tldrdhj, that there is a general tendency to uniformity of 

 coloration in the plumage of the upper surface of very old 

 birds, the bars, spots, and markings of the younger stages 

 gradually disappearing with age. 



«. Foot of Turnix ocellata. h. Foot of Turnix tanki. 



Fie-. 2. 



a. Foot of Turnix nigi-icolUs. h. Foot of Turnix melanogaster. 



fourthly, that the males, in some cases at least, retain the 

 characters of the young longer than the females. 



Fifthly, that the black throats, the rufous nuchal collars, 

 and such-like marks which distinguish the adult females in 



