TINAMOU 



965 



into tAvo subfamilies, the first, Tinaminai, having four toes, and the 

 second, Tinamotidina3, having but three — the latter containing, so 

 far as is known, but two genera, Calopezus with a single species 

 and Tinnmotis with two, while the former, according to Messrs. 

 Sclater and Salvin {ni mpra), may be separated into seven genera, 

 two being Tinamus and JVothocerctis, characterized by the roughness 

 of their posterior tarsal scales, the others, Cryphiriis, Rhynchotus, 

 JVofJioproda, Notlmra and Taoniscus, having smooth legs. 



^^y^^i^^ 



Rufous Tinamou {Rhynchotus rufescem^). 



To the ordinary spectator Tinamous have much the look of 

 Partridges, ])ut the more attentive observer will notice that their 

 elongated bill, their small head and slender neck, clothed with very 

 short feathers, give them a different air. The plumage is generally 

 inconspicuous : some tint of brown, ranging from rufous to slaty, 

 and often more or less closely barred with a darker shade or black, 

 is the usual style of coloration ] but certain species are characterized 

 by a white throat or a bay breast. The wings are short and 

 rounded, and in some forms the feathers of the tail, which in all 

 are hidden by their coverts, are soft. In bearing and gait the birds 

 shew some resemblance to their distant relatives the Batitx, and Mr. 

 Bartlett shews (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 115, pi, xii.) that this is 

 especially seen in the newly-hatched young. He also notices the 

 still stronger Ratite character, that the male takes on himself the 

 duty of incubation. The eggs are very remarkable objects, curiously 



