Bustard-Quails 265 



band bordered by a white streak from the ear-coverts down the sides of the neck. 

 The throat and breast are rufous, slightly mottled with dark ashy margins to 

 some of the feathers, while the sides of the body are dull reddish brown. The 

 full-plumaged male is maroon-rufous shaded with black above, becoming darker 

 on the head, the cheeks crossed by two bands of whitish alternating with bands of 

 rufous, while below, the throat, breast, and abdomen are white sprinkled with 

 black spots and the flanks rufous barred with brown. 



This bird, according to Messrs. Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, is not un- 

 common on the eastern slope of the mountain chain of Madagascar, where it is 

 observed on the ground among tangled vegetation. It does not fly but runs 

 with great rapidity, stopping suddenly now and again with elevated head to 

 gaze at the intruder, or to utter its low, dull cry of hou-hou. It feeds on various 

 insects and ants, and constructs its nest of rushes, Pandanus leaves, and inter- 

 laced branchlets, on the ground. According to native tradition, if the nest, which 

 is placed on low ground, is threatened with inundation, the birds pull it to a place 

 of safety beyond the reach of the water. It is said to be much attached to its 

 young, and if these be taken from the nest will follow the despoilers through the 

 forest and even into the village, and on account of this affectionate regard for 

 its progeny is held sacred by the natives. The eggs and nestlings do not appear 

 to have been seen by scientific eyes. 



There are grave differences of opinion as to the proper systematic position of 

 Mescenas, and it has been variously placed among the Rails, Cranes, and even with 

 the singing birds (Oscines), but all things considered, according to Gadow, it is per- 

 haps best considered as referable to an anomalous suborder of the present group. 



THE HEMIPODES, OR BUSTARD-QUAILS 



(Suborder Turnices) 



Although not of great importance, it is necessary to mention briefly the curious 

 little Bustard-Quails, or Hemipodes, as they are called from the fact that the first 

 toe is absent, except in one species. They are small terrestrial birds, none of 

 them exceeding seven and one half inches in length and most of them being 

 between five and six inches long, that in outward appearance are strongly sug- 

 gestive of miniature Quails and Partridges. They are, however, really very 

 different from them, and recent" investigation has seemed to indicate that their 

 nearest relatives are among the Rails, but in absence of detailed studies of all 

 the forms, they may conveniently remain in the present position. The females 

 are uniformly larger than the males, and more brightly colored, and as another 

 interesting feature it may be mentioned that the males perform the duties of 

 incubation and caring for the young. The nests are described as very simple 

 affairs, being merely grass-lined depressions in the ground, and the number of 

 eggs is said to be always four. The eggs are double-spotted as are the eggs of 

 the Sand Grouse and Rails, thus indicating another possible point of relationship 

 between them. The young are covered with down and are able to run about 



