74 

 Sub-order Peristeropodes. 



The hallux is on the same level as the other toes, and its basal phalanx as 

 long as that of the third toe. 



FAMILY MEGAPODIID^E. 



Oil gland nude. 

 GENUS MEGAPODIUS. Upper tail coverts do not extend to end of tail. 



565. HI. dllperreyi, Less, and Garn. (includes M. assimilis, Masters ; 



M. tumulus, Gld.), Scrub Fowl. 



Adult. Top of head with crest of brown feathers ; back of neck 

 and mantle grey, shading into rufescent olive-brown on middle of 

 back and wings ; lower back and upper tail coverts dark chestnut ; 

 tail blackish-chestnut ; chin, throat, and under parts smoky-grey. 



Total length, 14 to 17 in. ; wing, 8'7 to 10'2 in.; tail, 3'5 to 4/2 in. ; 

 tarsus, 2 5 to 3 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2. 



GENUS LIPOA. Upper tail coverts extend to end of tail. 



566. L. OCC'Hata* Gld. (Leipoa ocellata), Mallee Fowl or Native 



Pheasant. 



Top of the head covered with feathers, forming a short, thick crest ; 

 nostrils elongate and oval ; tail long, rounded, with 16 feathers ; the 

 longer upper tail coverts reach to the end of the tail ; a double row 

 of large hexagonal plates down the front of the rather short tarsus. 

 Hab. : 6, 7, 9. 



GENUS CATHETURUS. Head and neck almost naked, thinly covered 

 with hair-like feathers ; a large vascular wattle at base of neck. 

 Tail eighteen feathers ; tarsi and feet rather large ; fore part of 

 tarsus covered with double row of plates. 



567. C. lathailli (Talegalla lathami, Gld.), Yellow- wattled Brush Turkey. 



Lower neck red ; wattles yellow ; general colour of upper parts 

 dark brownish-black ; feathers of under parts dark brownish-grey, 

 rather widely edged with white. 



Total length, 25 in. ; wing, 12 in. ; tail, 10 in. ; tarsus, 4 in. 

 Hab. : 2, 3. 



568. C. purpureicollis (Talegallus, Le Souef), Purple-wattled Brush 



Turkey (Barnard Brush Turkey). 



Similar to T. lathami ; lower neck and wattles purplish-white. 

 Female has no wattle. 

 Hab. : 2. 



ORDER HEIVIIPODII. 



Feet with three toes (except Pedionomus, which has the hallux). Maxillo- 

 palatines not coalesced with one another. 



FAMILY 



Button Quails, not True Quails. 



GENUS TURNIX. Hind toe absent. 



569. T, macillosa, Temm. (Turnix melanotus, Gld.), Red-backed Quail 

 (Black -backed Quail). 



Tarsus longer than middle toe with claw ; centre of breast not 

 transversely barred with black ; threat never black ; sexes different ; 

 bill slender. 



