F orm, &c.—Figure rather robust. Head small ; bill short, stout, conical,
and pointed, the culmen arched from the base. Wings rounded, and when
folded reach beyond the commencement of the second third of the tail, the
third, fourth, and fifth quill feathers equal and longest, the second slightly
shorter, and the first rudimentary ; the tertiary quill feathers nearly as long
as the primaries, and rather longer than the secondaries. Tail even, or very
slightly rounded. Tarsi short and rather strong, anteriorly and posteriorly
scutellated ; toes moderately long and rather slender ; the claws of the fore
toes short, slender, and slightly curved, the claw of the hinder toe rather
long, strong, and nearly straight.
DIMENSIONS.
from the point of the bill
Inches.
to
Une».
Length of the tarsus................
Inchés.
. . 0 9
the tip of the tail......... . . 5 4 of the outer toe . . . . . . . . 0 Si
of the b ill............ ........... . . 0 | ■ » | of the middle to e .......... 5
of the wings when folded . . . 2 10 of the inner to e .............. . . 0
ofthe tail . ...................... n i of the hinder toe . . . . . . . . 0 3
of the claw of hinder toe . . 0 4
A second adult specimen of this species was obtained, but its sex was not
recorded. In size it was rather superior to the male specimen just described,
and the feathers of the upper parts are broadly edged with a colour
intermediate between orpiment and reddish orange ; the latter colour on the
breast is also much darker ; in other respects the two are similar.
Only a few individuals of this species were seen, and those upon the extensive grassy plains
to the northward and eastward of Latakoo. I t is a species which seems to prefer situations
which abound in long and rank grass, among which it runs like the quail, and flies like it
when disturbed to a short distance, and then suddenly descends, after which it cannot again be
got to take wing unless by the aid of dogs. It feeds upon seeds and small insects.
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