SCRATCHING BIRDS— GALLIX.E. 



521 



chicken, the turkeys, the peacocks, and other well-known birds, among 

 them liy far tlie most important and interesting species domesticated by 

 man. 



Sub-Family :\IELEAURIX.E. 



Char. Tail moderate, truncate. Head and neck nearly naked, and more 

 or less carunculated or with Heshy lobes. 



The preceding diagnosis is quite sufficient to distinguish the 3T(Icaf/rinm 

 of Gray from his other sub-families, the Puvoniiuc having the tail and its 

 co\'erts much developed and depressed, but broad and rounded ; the Phasi- 

 anincv have tlie tail greatly lengthened and attenuated, cuneate, compressed ; 

 the GuUimc liave the tail moderate, arclied, and compressed, the sides of the 

 head only nakeil ; and the Lo/iJiojihorinw have the head feathered, except 

 immediately around the eye ; the tail moderate, broad, and rather de- 

 pressed. 



M. gnllopavo. 



But one of these groups is represented by indigenous .species in the 

 Xew World, although species of all tlie others are fa.niliar inhabitants 

 of the barn-yard or tlie aviary. Three species of the genus 3Idcagris are 

 known, — two closely allied, the third, M. occUnfa of Yucatan, being quite 

 different. Tliis is one of the most beautiful of tlie gallinacea, in the liril- 

 liancy of its plumage almost rivalling the jteacock, and especially in the 

 eye-shaped spots on its feathers. 



C6 



