Culmen curved but not hooked; nostrils opening by a slit beneath a
horny scale; tarsi naked, without spurs; hind toe absent; wings short,
rounded, and curved to the body; rectrices short, soft, and nearly
hidden by the long fluffy coverts.
Family TURNICIDÆ.
Size small, the largest Philippine species under 200 mm. in length,
the others much smaller. Birds of this family resemble Excalfactoria in
general form but may be recognized by their lack of a hind toe. They
are usually found in grassy plains. The flight is rapid but of short
duration; the birds get up at one's feet but seldom flush a second
time. The nest is placed on the ground beneath a tuft of grass; eggs,
three or four, spotted with brown.
Genus TURNIX Bonnaterre, 1790.
Characters same as those given for the Family.
Species.
a1. Breast without chestnut or rusty buff, heavily cross-barred with
black. ... fasciata (p. 18)
a2. Breast chestnut or rusty buff, without black cross-bars.
b1. Larger; wing more than 80 mm.; breast rich chestnut; chin white
([male]), or black ([female]), or white spotted with black (young)
... ocellata (p. 20)
b2. Smaller; wing less than 80 mm.; breast rusty buff; chin whitish,
never black nor mixed with black.
c1. Bill more slender, depth at angle of gonys, 4 mm. or less.
d1. Smaller; wing, 57 to 60; tarsus, 16.5 to 18 mm ... whiteheadi
(p. 20)
d2. Larger; wing, 65.5 or more; tarsus, 19 mm. or more.
e1. Larger; wing, 67 mm.; upper parts lighter ... suluensis
(p. 21)
e2. Smaller; wing, 65.5 mm.; upper parts darker ... celestinoi
(p. 22)
c2. Bill stouter, depth at angle of gonys, 5.8 mm ... worcesteri
(p. 23)