6o6 COLLEGE ZOOLOGY 



borealis ; the Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperi (Fig. 495); and 

 the goshawk, Astur atricapillus. 



Order 16. Galliformes. -- FOWL-LIKE BIRDS. --This is a 

 widely distributed group containing seven families, only two 

 of which have North American representatives: (i) the CRA- 

 CID.E or curassows and guans, with one species in Texas ; and 

 (2) the PHASIANID.E, or turkeys, partridges, etc. 



The PHASIANID^E are the true game-birds, and are known as 

 bob-whites, quail, grouse, partridges, ptarmigan, chickens, hens, 

 and turkeys. Among the best-known species inhabiting the 

 United States are the wild turkey, Mdeagris gallopavo sihestris, 

 which is the largest American game-bird and a native species, but 

 now nearly extinct; the bob- white, or quail, Colinus virginianus; 

 the ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus ; the willow ptarmigan, 

 Lagopus lagopus, of the Arctic regions; and the prairie-chicken, 

 Tympanuchus americanus. 



The game-birds are, as a rule, terrestrial, but many of them 

 roost or feed in trees. Their nests are usually made on the 

 ground in grass or leaves, and generally a large number of eggs, 

 from six to eighteen, are laid. The members of one family 

 often remain together as a " covey," and in some species the 

 coveys unite to form large flocks. 



Order 17. Gruiformes. -- CRANE-LIKE BIRDS. --The seven 

 families belonging to this order contain mostly wading birds 

 with incompletely webbed front toes. The families RALLID.E 

 and GRUID.E are represented by North American species. 



The RALLID^E are the rails, gallinules, and coots. The rails 

 are seldom seen, spending most of their time among the reeds and 

 rushes in marshes. The king-rail, Rallus elegans, of eastern 

 North America is a large species, being about eighteen inches 

 in length. The gallinules also inhabit marshes. The Florida 

 gallinule, Gallinula galeata, is a common form. The coots are 

 frequently called mud-hens, and sometimes hell-divers, because 

 of their ability to dive quickly. There is only one common 

 species, Fulica americana. 



