408 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIU. 



The former, the males, average only 2-57" (=5 '43 mm.). In 

 length of wing the longest is 2-80" (=7" 11 mm.), and the shortest 

 2-42" {= 6-14 mm.). 

 Young birds. — 



" In the yonng birds the whole of the upper plumage is 

 reddish brown, becoming brighter rufous on the nuchal 

 region, and indistinctly barred with blackish brown and 

 spotted with white, especially on the wing coverts and chest. 

 The latter is paler buff than that of the adult, and spotted all 

 over with black." (Ogilvie-Grrant). 

 The nestling in dotvn is not distinguishable from the nestling of 

 Turnix pugnax. 



It is quite impossible to divide this little Bustard Quail into 

 sub-species. Two specimens from Formosa, both females, in the 

 British Museum Collection can be picked out from the rest by their 

 rich plumage, as can one from Sambalpur, another from the Deccan, 

 and yet one more from East Burdwan. All these five are, how^ever, 

 identical, and their distribution over so scattered an area at once 

 disposes of the question of their difference in colouration being of a 

 subspecific value, moreover they are closely approached by a few 

 specimens from Raipur and other parts of Central India. 



It is curious to note that specimens from Pegu are rather paler 

 than birds from other parts of Biwmah, just as are specimens of 

 Turnix ^ougnax, though these latter agree with the dark Malayan and 

 Eastern form rather than with the South Indian ferruginous bird. 



The range of variation in Turnix dicssumieri is not nearly as great 

 as it is in Turnix ])ugnax, and consists principally in the amount of 

 black barring in the upper plumage, and the extent of the buff 

 margins to the feathers of the wings and scapulars. As these are 

 plentiful, or the reverse, so is the general aspect of the bird itself, 

 dark or pale. The rufous of the nape and neck does not vary much 

 in colour, though a good deal in extent, but the rufous of the upper 

 back is often a more grey brown than a red, and this, of course, 

 also affects the general appearance considerably. 



Bistrihution. — This tiny Game Bird is found practically through- 

 out India, as far South as Travancore, from the Southern part of 

 which I have received two male specimens with their eggs. From 

 this State it extends North in every direction as far as the Himala- 

 yas, ascending them to at least the height of 8,000 feet. It occurs 

 in all the Hill Ranges of Assam, and I have personally often taken 

 it in the Khasia Hills, Cachar Hills, Naga Hills, and up the Assam 

 Valley, as far East as Dibrugarh and Sadiya. It is also found in 

 Cachar, Sylhet, Tippera, Chittagong, and the Chittagong Hill 

 Tracts. Further East it has been obtained by one of my native 

 ■collectors in the Shan States. Gates got specimens in Pegii and 

 Swinhoe obtained it in Formosa and Hainan. 



