248 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



1384. Turnix tanki. Indian Button Quail. I have never 

 seen them in fields or stubbles, nor had any of the few I have exa- 

 mined eaten any grain, only grass seeds and small black fragments, 

 which might have been portions of small hard seeds or of tiny 

 coleoptera. H. M. G. B. II, 189. 



Stomachs examined 



6-3-07. Small weed seeds. 



12-3-08. Small weed seeds. 



18-3-09. 1 Phidole malinsi. 



12 Camponotus compressus. 



1 Himatismus sp. 

 45 Leguminous seeds (No. 5). 

 145 Weed seeds (No. 16). 



A variety of weed seeds. 

 18-3-09. 10 Camponotus compressus. 



1 Noctuid moth. 

 43 Weed seeds (No. 5). 



A variety of other weed seeds. 

 1 Small pebble. 



18-3-09. 1 Himatismus sp. 



1 Opatrum sp. 



A variety of small weed seeds. 

 18-3-09. Small weed seeds. 



18-3-09. Small weed seeds. 



18-3-09. Small weed seeds. 



5-5-07. 1 Tenebrionid. 



3 Small Elaterids. 



Small weed seeds. 

 10-07. Small weed seeds. 



Summary. Of 31 insects taken by 10 birds one^is injurious, 

 and 30 neutral ; none are beneficial. Four birds took neutral insects, 

 one injurious and all had eaten weed seeds in far greater proportion 

 than insects. 



This bird usually occurs in jungle, but during 1807 it was 

 sometimes to be seen in a cotton crop. It is apparently almost 

 purely seed-eating, but rarely taking insects. The weed seeds eaten 

 are usually small and are of the same varieties as those found in 

 the Black Partridge. 



1385. Turnix albiventris. Nicobar Button Quail. Small 

 seeds. H. M. G. B. II, 199. 



1386. Turnix blanfordi. Burmese Button Quail. Grain, 

 seeds, small insects, and tiny green shoots. H. M. G. B. II, 184, 



