GALLINACE^, 359 



It is equally necessary to separate from Tetrao, the 



TiNAMus, Lath. Crypturus, Illig. Yn ambus, Azz.(l) 



Or the Tinamous, a genus of American birds very remarkable for a 

 slender and long neck, (although their tarsi are short) covered with 

 feathers, the tips of whose barbs are slender and slightly curled, 

 which gives a very peculiar air to that part of their plumage. The 

 beak is long, slender, and blunt at the end; somewhat arched, with 

 a little groove on each side; the nostrils are pierced in the middle of 

 each side, and penetrate obliquely backwards. Their wings are 

 short, and they have scarcely any tail. The membrane between the 

 base of the toes is very short. Their thumb, reduced* to a spur, 

 cannot reach the ground. The circumference of the eye is partly 

 naked. They either perch on low branches of trees, or hide among 

 tall grassj they feed on fruits and insects, and their flesh is good. 

 Their size varies from that of the Pheasant down to that of the 

 Quail, some of them are even still smaller. 



One portion of them, Pezus, Spix, is still furnished with a 

 small tail concealed under the feathers of the rump. (2) 



In the other TiNAMus, Spix, every vestige of a tail is annihi- 

 lated. (3) Their nostrils are placed a little farther back. 



We should distinguish the Rynohotus, Spix, whose beak, which 

 is stronger, has no groove, and is slightly arcuated and depressed? 

 the nostrils are pierced near the base. (4) 



CoLUMBA, Lin. 



The Pigeons may be considered as forming a slight transition from 

 the Gallinaceae to the Passerinae. Like the former, their beak is 

 vaulted, the nostrils perforated in a broad membranous space, and 



(1) Except his CJioro, which is a Gallinula, and his Uru, which is the Tocro al- 

 ready spoken of ai..on_^ the Partridges. 



(2) Tetr. major, Gm., or Tin. brasiliensis. Lath., or the Tin. magoua, Tern.; 

 Buff. Enl. 476, and much better. Hist, des Ois., IV, 4to, pi. xxiv; it is the Fezus 

 serratus, Spix; Tetr. cinereus; Tetr. variegatus, Enl. 328, fi-om which the Tin. 

 undulatus, T., or Cryptura sylvicola, Vieill. Gal. 216, can differ but little; Tin. 

 apequia {T. obsoktus. Tern.) Col. 196; Tin. tataupa, Swains. 111. 19, or T. plum- 

 beus, T. Col. 196, or Pezus niamha, Spix, 78, a; Tinamus nodivagus, Pr. Max., 

 or Pezus zabele, Sp., 77; Tin. macaco or vermicule {T. adspersus, T. ), Col. 369, or 

 Pezus vapura, Sp. 78; Tetr. sovi, Gm., or Tin. sovi. Lath. Buff., Enl. 829. 



(3) Tin. inamhui, Azz. {T. macuhsus,!.), or T. major, Sp., 80; T. medius, 

 Spix,81; T. boraquira, Sp. 79; T. carape, ( T. pavoninus, T.) of which the Tinam. 

 minor, Sp. 81, appears to be the female. These three species are very similar. 



(4) The Tinamou isabelle [T rufescens, T.), Col. 412; or Bhinchotus fasciaiuSt 

 Spix, 76. 



