189 



THE WHITE-SPOTTED ORTYGIS. 



Ortygis Meiffrenii TEMMINCK. 



PLATE XXVII. 



White-spotted Turnix, Su-ainson, Zool. Illttst. Turnix 

 Meiffeinii, Temminck, pi. 50. 



THESE curious diminutive birds are found in Af- 

 rica, India, and the warmer parts of New Holland. 

 Few of them are so large as the common quail, and 

 several do not attain half the size. The colours are 

 somewhat similar ; but in the form of the body 

 the length of uncovered leg above the joint, form of 

 the foot in wanting entirely the hallux reminds us 

 of the true bustards. They inhabit the barren Landes, 

 and the confines of the deserts, seldom taking 

 wing except when pressed, and running with great 

 swiftness. They are polygamous, and it is one of 

 these birds which are so much used by the Malays, 

 Javanese, and Chinese, in quail-fighting, which is 

 carried to a much greater excess than the same 

 practices in the cock-pit. The species represented 

 on the accompanying plate, exhibits the peculiarity 

 of form and length of legs. The bird itself is 

 scarcely larger than the figure, the upper parts 

 delicately shaded with yellowish white, the lower 

 parts nearly pure white. By Mr. Swainson it had 



