167 
THE WHITE-SPOTTED ORTVGIS. 
Oriygis Meiffrcniu — Temminck. 
PLATE XXVII. 
White-spotted Turrtix, Steainsm^ Zoot, Illust. — Turnix 
Meiffeinii, Temminvk^ pi. 50, 
These curious diminutive birds ore found in Af- 
rica, India, and the warmer parte of New Holland. 
Few of them are so large as the common quail, and 
several do not attain half the size. The colours are 
somewhat similar ; hut in die form of the body — 
the length of uncovered leg above the joint, form of 
the foot in wanting entirely the hallux — reminds m 
. of the true bustards. They inhabit the barren Landes, 
and the coniines of the deserts, seldom taking 
wing except when pressed, and running with great 
swiftness. They nre polygamous, and it is one of 
these birds which are so much used by the Malays, 
Javanese* and Chinese in quail-fighting, which is car- 
ried to a much greater excess than the same practices 
in the cock-pit. The species represented on the ac- 
companying plate exhibits the peculiarity of form 
and length of legs. The bird itself is scarcely larger 
than the figure, the upper parts delicately shaded 
with yellowish white, the lower parts nearly pure 
white* By Mr Swainson it had been, (subsequently 
