RECENTLY OBSERVED SPECIES. 279 



of very small size, few of them being so large as the 

 Common Quail, and several not half the size. They 

 differ from the Quails in the form of the wing, in 

 their longer tarsi, and in wanting the hind toe. The 

 bill is short, rather stout, much compressed, with the 

 outline of the upper mandible gently decurved from 

 near the base, the sides little convex, the edges direct, 

 the tip pointed ; lower mandible with its angle long and 

 narrow, its outline straight and ascending, its edges 

 slightly in flexed. Nostrils lateral, linear, partly closed by 

 a membrane ; a partially bare space around the eye. 

 Tarsi rather long, slender, with two rows of scales be- 

 fore ; toes of moderate length, slender, compressed, with 

 slender, moderately curved, acute claws ; the hind-toe 

 wanting. Plumage full and soft ; wings of moderate 

 length, very broad, the primary quills much incurved, 

 the outer three longest ; tail very short, its feathers de- 

 curved, and not stronger than the coverts, which con- 

 ceal them. 



They inhabit Africa, India, and Australia, living in 

 desert places, and feeding on seeds and insects. They 

 are said to run with great celerity, but to fly little. 



332. HEMIPODIUS ANDALUSICUS. ANDALUSIAN 

 HEMIPODE. 



Upper parts brown, barred with chestnut-black, and yel- 

 lowish-white ; head with a longitudinal light-red band; 

 wing-coverts yellowish-brown, toward the end paler with a 

 dusky spot ; quills and tail greyish-brown ; throat white ; 

 fore-neck pale-chestnut ; lower parts yellowish- white ; sides 

 barred with semilunar brown spots. 



Length about 6 inches. 



Of this species, which inhabits Africa and Spain, it is 

 stated by Mr. Thomas Goatley, in the Annals of Natural 

 History, Vol. XIV., that in November 1844, he had re- 

 ceived a Quail, having no back toe, and which he found 

 described in Latham's General History as the Perdix 

 Gibraltarica. It was shot by the gamekeeper on the Corn- 

 well estate, in Oxfordshire, about three miles from Chip- 

 ping Norton, and having been preserved, was figured and 

 described by Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Goatley also states, that 



