189 
THE WHITE-SPOTTED ORTYGIS. 
Ortygis Meiffrenii Temminck. 
PLATE XXVII. 
White-spotted Turaix, Swainsm^ Zool. — Turnix 
Meiffeinii, Temminck, pi. 50. 
These curious diminutive birds are found in Af- 
rica, India, and the warmer parts 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 ; but in the form of the body — 
the length of uncovered leg above the joint, form of 
the foot in wanting entirely the hallux — reminds us 
of thetruebustards. Theyinhabit the barren Landes, 
and the confines of the deserts, seldom taking 
wing except when pressed, and running with great 
swiftness. They are polygamous, and it is one of 
these birds which are so much used by the Malays, 
Javanese, and Chinese, in quail-fighting, which is 
carried to a much greater excess than the same 
practices in the cock-pit. The .species represented 
on the accompanying 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 
