Chap. XVI. THE YOUNG LIKE THE ADULT MALES. 201 
been acquired for the sake of protection during the 
period of nesting. A different view seems to me more 
probable. As the cases are curious and not numerous, 
I will briefly give all that I have been able to find. 
In one section of the genus Turnix, quail-like birds, 
the female is invariably larger than the male (being 
nearly twice as large in one of the Australian species) 
and this is an unusual circumstance with the Gallinaceae. 
In most of the species the female is more distinctly 
coloured and brighter than the male,^^ but in some 
few species the sexes are alike. In Turnix taigoor of 
India the male wants the black on the throat and neck, 
and the whole tone of the plumage is lighter and less 
‘^pronounced than that of the female.” The female 
appears to be more vociferous, and is certainly much 
more pugnacious than the male; so that the females 
and not the males are often kept by the natives for 
fighting, like game-cocks. As male birds are exposed 
by the English bird-catchers for a decoy near a trap, 
in order to catch other males by exciting their rivalry, 
so the females of this Turnix are employed in India. 
When thus exposed the females soon begin their “ loud 
“purring call, which can be heard a long w^ay off, 
“ and any females within ear-shot run rapidly to the 
“ spot, and commence fighting with the caged bird.” 
In this way from twelve to twenty birds, all breeding- 
females, may be caught in the course of a single 
day. The natives assert that the females after laying 
their eggs associate in flocks, and leave the males to 
sit on them. There is no reason to doubt the truth 
of this assertion, which is supported by some observa- 
For the Australian species, see Gould’s ‘ Handbook,’ &c., vol. ii. p. 
178, 180, 186, and 188. In the British Museum specimens of the 
Australian Plain-wanderer (Fedionomus torquatus) may be seen, shew- 
ing similar sexual differences. 
