CHAP. XVIII.] 
BIRDS. 
34 1 
Family 89. — TUENTCIDiE. (2 Genera, 24 Species.) 
General Distribution, 
Neotropical 
Sub-regions. 
Nearctic 
Sub-regions. 
Paljearotic 
Sub-regions. 
Ethiopian 
Sub-regions, 
Oriental 
Sub-regions. 
Australian 
SUB'REGIONa 
1 
to 
1 
£ 
1 .2.3.4 
1 .2.3.4 | 
1.2 
The Turnicidse 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. — MEGAPODXIDiE. (4 Genera, 20 Species.) 
General Distribution. 
Neotropical 
Sub-regions. 
Nearctic 
S UB-HEGIONS. 
Pal/e arctic 
Sub-regions. 
Ethiopian 
Sub-regions. 
Oriental 
SUB-MTQIONS. 
Australian 
Sub-regions. 
1.2.3— | 
1 4 
The Megapodiidee, 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 
Megapodius 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 
