turnix

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A genus of hemipods or button-quails, giving name to the family Turnicidæ: same as Hemipodius, and of prior date.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of birds belonging to Turnix or Hemipodius and allied genera of the family Turnicidæ. These birds resemble quails and partridges in general appearance and in some of their habits, but differ in important anatomical characteristics. The hind toe is usually lacking. They are found in Asia, Africa, Southern Europe, the East Indian Islands, and esp. in Australia and adjacent islands, where they are called quails (see quail, n., 3.). See turnicimorphæ.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun type genus of the Turnicidae: button quail