yS Allen's naturalist's library. 



The habits of this species appear to be very similar to those 

 of the Common Hazel-Hen. 



THE PARTRIDGES, QUAILS, AND PHEASANTS. 

 FAMILY PHASIANID^. 



Distinguished by having the hind-toe raised above the level 

 of the other toes. The nostrils are never hidden by feathers. 

 The feet (metatarsi) are partially or wholly naked and often 

 armed with spurs. The toes are always naked and never 

 pectinate along the sides, the horny appendages so character- 

 istic of the Bare-toed Grouse being invariably absent. 



For convenience' sake this great Family may be divided into 

 the Sub-families Perdicince, Phasianince^ and OdoiitophorincE, the 

 first containing the Old World Partridge-like genera, the second 

 the Pheasants and their allies, the Turkeys and Guinea Fowls, 

 and the third the American Partridges and Quails. There 

 appears, however, to be no real line of demarcation between the 

 first two groups, which merge gradually into one another through 

 such forms as the Bamboo Partridges {Bambiisicola) and the 

 African and Indian Spur-Fowl {Ptilopachys and Galloperdix). 

 The shape of the wing is perhaps the most important dis- 

 tinguishing mark between the Old World Partridges and 

 Pheasants, and, when taken in connection with the length 

 of the tail, is a useful, if somewhat artificial character. In 

 all the Perdicince, with but very few exceptions, the first flight- 

 feather is equal to or longer than the tenth, while all the 

 Phasia?itnce, with the exception of one genus, have the first 

 flight-feather much shorter than the tenth. Unfortunately, 

 the exception among the latter is the important genus 

 Phasianus, which has the first flight-feather like that of most 

 Old World Partridges, much longer than the tenth, and, w^re it 

 not for the long tail, which at once shows it to be a Pheasant, 

 one would certainly feel inclined to place it among the 

 Pe7'dici?ice. 



