CHAPTER TI 



THE GJME-BIRDS JXD RJfLS 



IT is not eas\- in a few words cxactl\- to define a " game-bird." Anatomical details aside, 

 the most characteristic features are the small head and moderately long neck, and a 

 compact bod\-, in which the wings, when folded, are almost entirely concealed. The hind 

 toe is ahva\-s present, and the claws are adapted for scratching purposes — that is to say, for 

 scratching up the surface of the groiunl in the search for seeds as food. The wings are 

 hollowed so as to fit close to the bod)', and the flight, which is nois\' and never long- 

 sustained, is nevertheless often exceedingly rapid. The young are hatched covered with down, 

 and able to run in a few hours after birth. 



Fho:a b) C. Rfid] 



[u'lihaw, s:b. 



RED GROUSE 



T/iis is one of the species in ivhich the toes are feathered 



Grouse and Ptarmigan 



The birds of this group are distinguished by the feathery covering which clothes the feet. 

 In some grouse, however, the toes are bare. This causes them to resemble the Pheasant group, 

 from which the\' ma\- be distinguished by the fact that the toes are fringed with horny processes 

 forming a sort of comb. 



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