386 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIIL 



each side of the posterior border, and the episternal process is 

 partially perforated to receive the inner ends of the coracoids. 



The palate is schizognathous, as in the Gallince, l3ut the palatines, 

 pterygoids and basiptery golds are more like those of the Plovers. 



The nasals are schizorhinal. 



The ninscles of the thigh are Galline except that the accessory 

 fenioro caudal is absent; in onr genus Turnix the deep plantar 

 tendons nnite, as in other birds with but three toes, and then the 

 combined tendons again split up to supply the three toes. 



In other respects the Bustard Quail resemble the Game Birds ; 

 the young are hatched covered wtth down, and can run and feed 

 themselves as soon as they leave the nest. 



The eggs are practically invariably four in number, and are some- 

 what conical, being laid in the nest in the same manner, point to 

 point, as the Plovers lay their eggs. 



Family TURNICID^. 



Genus Turnix. 



Bill like that of the Gallince, but rather small and slender. 

 The wings are pointed with the first quill longest. Legs and feet 

 moderate, the latter in some species rather long. 



Our Indian species are resident throughout their range, but move 

 higher up the mountains in the warmer months of the year, and 

 may also move about locall}^ in certain parts of India under stress 

 of climatic influences. 



Ogilvie-Grant recognizes twenty-one species in the Catalogue of 

 the British Museum, and twenty-two species in his Game Birds, 

 where he adds the species Turnix vjhiteheadi from Luzon. To these 

 twenty-two species Grant further adds two sub-species, and of these 

 twenty-four species and sub-species, five species and one sub-species 

 are, according to him, represented in India. 



As regards the sub-species, they are a matter of no little difiiculty, 

 but as I shall deal with these iHider the various species, with which 

 they are connected in detail, further comment is here unnecessary. 



The family Turnicidce is composed of birds of wdiich the female 

 is the larger, generally the higher coloured, and always the domi- 

 nant factor in all domestic matters, for, beyond laying the eggs, s4ie 

 has nothing to do with the rearing of the young. 



Key to the Species. 



A. Breast barred right across with black and 



white or quite black ... ... ... ^mgnax. 



B. Breast never barred or black in the centre. 

 a. Central tail feathers lengthened and 



pointed and edged with buff; bill dark, 



not yellow ... ... ... ... dussumieri. 



