196 



THE TATA UFA. 



Fourteen or fifteen species of these curious birds 

 are described, but tbeir history is not well known, 

 and there is considerable confusion among their 

 names, from the works of Spix affixing new appella- 

 tions to almost all that were known. One of the 

 most curious is the Tinamus nanus of Temminck, 

 of very diminutive size, being about a third less than 

 the common quail. It is very interesting from its 

 form, which approaches in many respects to that of 

 Ortygis, and is thought by Temminck to stand at 

 the extremity of the present genus, and lead to that 

 we have just mentioned. The hallux is simply a 

 nail, and there is an extraordinary development in 

 the feathers of the rump. It will stand as the type 

 of a subgenus. 



