RASORES. SCRAPERS. IO7 



more developed than that of the females ; but in all the species, 

 the plumule, or accessory feather — Fig. 20, 6, p. 75 — is very 

 large and tufty, in which respect the Rasores differ essentially 

 from the Gemitores. 



Representatives of this order are found in all parts of the 

 w^orld, from the forests and jungles of the Indian isles, where 

 the Peacock unfolds his gorgeous train, to the frozen shores of 

 Labrador and Greenland, where the Ptarmigan burrows among 

 the snow in search of the scanty herbage. Certain genera arc 

 peculiar to particular regions, as the Turkeys to America, the 

 Argus to India and China, the Pheasants to the v/arm and tem- 

 perate parts of Asia, the Guinea-fowls to Africa; wdiile others, 

 as the Grouse and Partridges, are generally distributed. The 

 affinities of the Rasores are A^aricus : on one hand, with the 

 Pigeons, through Crax and Penelope ; on the other with the 

 Bustards, which lead to the Plovers ; and with the Gallinules 

 and Rails. 



They feed on seeds, berries, fruits of various kinds, and on buds, 

 twigs, and herbaceous plants, as well as occasionally on insects 

 and worms. Their digestive organs are peculiar, in possessing 

 the large globular crop or recipient of their food, and the ex- 

 tremely large coeca, in which it undergoes a second elaboration 

 after passing through the small intestine. Their bill is, of course, 

 admirably adapted for cutting, breaking off, or wTcnching, the 

 vegetable substances on which they feed ; and which are ground 

 to a coarse pulp in the stomach, the action of which is aided 

 by the numerous particles or fragments of quartz swallowed 

 for that purpose. The food, being comparatively innutritions, 

 besides undergoing the usual elaboration in the intestine, re- 

 quires for its complete assimilation a very great length of tube, 

 which is supplied by the coeca. They seek their food on the 

 ground, on which very many constantly reside ; but some are 

 of arboreal habits. They run with great celerity, and many 

 have a strong, rapid, and continued flight, although for the 

 most part they fly heavily, by continued quick flaps of their 

 short curved wings. Their nests are always placed on the 

 ground, and very artlessly constructed, being usually a slight 

 hollow, with some blades of grass, twigs, or leaves. The eg^;^ 



