TURNIX SCINTILLANS (Gould). 



SPECKLED mtXIX. ( i kni's : Turnix. 



X T ()THIX(i is known of the lial>its of tliis, the most beautifu] variety of the Tumlrrs, but it 

 i-i probably closely resembles in its ways the better known members of the tribe It inhabits the 

 rloiltman's Abrolhos, a group of islands off tin- western coast of Australia, and is found most plentifully 

 "ii two of these islands, named East and West Wallaby Islands. It resembles most in colour the 

 Turnix Vtirius, bu1 IS more than a third smaller than it, and has more variegated markings and hues. 



The upper-surfaces are of a rich reddish-brown ; on the head and neck are crescent-shaped 

 markings <>f black, and on the hack the feather-s are beautifully barred with rich brown 

 marks, and margined witli grey ; on the wings the brown markings and grey margins are more 

 pronounced; the side- of the head are white, with the feathers tipped with brown; the sides of tin; 

 chest are sandy-red, with black circular markings of grey and black; the chest is speckled with dark-grey; 

 primaries, brown ; irides, reddish-yellow ; bill, yellowish-grey ; legs and feet, dark-yellow. 



Si/.e of female: Length. 6 inches; bill, | inch; wing, 3^ inches: tarsi, : , ! inch. 



Si/.e of male: Length. 5 inches; bill, " 1(i inch: wing, :».] inches; tarsi, 11 1(i inch. 



Habitat : Houtman's A.lbrohos Islands, off the coast of Western Australia. 



TURNIX MELA NOTTS (Gould). 



BLAC 7\ - HA CKED TURNIX. Genus: Turnix. 



OiPECIMENS <>f this variety have been obtained at Moreton Bay and in several other parts of 

 ^ Australia, but no particulars as to its habits and economy have been furnished by any observer. 

 The colouring of the sexes is the same, and the female is again the larger of the two. 



The crown of the head is almost black, with brown markings; round the eye is buff; the 

 throat is grey, with fine, dark markings ; the shoulders are reddish-brown, with black markings and a 

 lighter margin; the rump and upper tail-coverts are almost black, with small brown markings; the 

 wing-coverts are a light-brown, each feather marked in the centre with a dark spot; sides of the chest 

 and abdomen, reddish-brown, with circular markings: primaries and chest, buff; centre of the abdomen 

 and under tail-coverts, almost white : bill and feet, yellowish-brown. 



Length, 6^ inches ; bill, \ inch : wing, 3] inches ; tarsi, f inch. 



Habitats: Moreton Hay. Queensland: parts of New South Wales. 



