804 



ZOOLOGY 



ally seems to be the u maiiu-mea 1 " of the Samoan Islands. 

 The pigeons proper are represented in North America by 

 three wild species (Fig. 289). The domesticated pigeon, 

 Columba livia, is a native of southern Europe or western 

 Asia. 



The order Gallinacei includes a number of terrestrial 

 birds of large size, especially the grouse or partridges, the 

 pheasants and common fowl, the guinea fowl, and the tur- 



FIG. 290. Ruffed grouse (Bonaxa 



keys. On account of their large size and well-flavored 

 flesh, they are much used as human food. The grouse 

 of America include the familiar kb bob-white ' or quail, 

 which is undergoing a rapid extermination in populous 

 regions ; the Canada grouse, which does not occur south 

 of New York; the ruffed grouse of the Eastern States; 2 

 and the prairie chicken of the Great Plains, which has 

 also become almost exterminated. In Europe the large 



1 Red-bird. 



2 Fig. 290. 



