CHAP, xvm.] 



BIRDS. 



341 



Family 89.— TURNICID^E. (2 Genera, 24 Species.) 



General Distribution. 



The Turnicidae are small Quail-like birds, supposed to have 

 remote affinities with the American Tinamous. and with suffi- 

 cient distinctive peculiarities to constitute a separate family. 

 They range over the Old World, from Spain all through Africa 

 and Madagascar, and over the whole Oriental region to Formosa, 

 and then north again to Pekin, as well as south-eastward to Aus- 

 tralia and Tasmania. The genus Turnix (23 sp.), has the range 

 of the family ; Ortyxelos (1 sp.), inhabits Senegal ; but the 

 latter genus may not belong to this family. 



Family 90.— MEGAPODIID^E. (4 Genera, 20 Species.) 



The Megapodiidse, or Mound-makers and Brush-turkeys, are 

 generally dull-coloured birds of remarkable habits and economy, 

 which have no near allies, but are supposed to have a remote 

 affinity with the South American Curassows. They are highly 

 characteristic of the Australian region, extending into almost 

 every part of it except New Zealand and the remotest Pacific 

 islands, and only sending two species beyond its limits, — a 

 Mcgapodius in the Philippine Islands and North-west Borneo, 

 and another in the Nicobar Islands, separated by about 1,800 

 miles from its nearest ally in Lombok. The Philippine species 

 offers little difficulty, for these birds are found on the smallest 



