AVES— QUA I L...S CREAMER. 



GOO 



THE CALIFORNIAN QUAIL.' 



The general color of the upper part of the body and wings in the Califor- 

 nian quail, is of a dusky brown, assuming a leaden or slaty tinge on the 

 tail, and on the fore part of the breast, upon which it advances in the form 

 of a broad band. The fore part of the head is of a mixed ash gray, and the 

 hinder part blackish brown. 



ORDER XI.-ALECTORIDES. 



Birds of this order have the bill shorter than the head, or the same length, 

 strong, robust, upper mandible convex, and often hooked at the point ; tarsus 

 long and slender; three toes before and one behind; the hind toe articulated 

 higher up than those before. 



THE HORNED SCREAMERS 



Is a native of Brazil. This is a water-fowl of the rapacious kind, and big- 

 ger than a swan. The head, which is small for the size of the body, bears 



1 Perdi.v californica, Lath. 



2 Palamedea cornuta, Lath. The genus palameclca has the bill short, conico-convex 

 much curved at the point, compressed throughout its length ; nasal furrow large ; head 

 small, covered with down, and around with a slender flexible horn ; nostrils remote from 

 the base of the bill, lateral, oval, open ; legs short, thick ; toes very long, the lateral con- 

 nected with the intermediate by a short membrane ; wirgs ample, and spurs or the 

 wmglets. 



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