GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



44; 



ling the Peacocks in the richness of its costume. The Pheasants of our 

 preserves (P. Colchicus) are said to have been imported into Greece hy 

 tlie adventurous Argonauts from the banks of the river Phasis, whence 

 the origin of their name. 



The Barn-door Yowl (Gallus) is fm-nished with a fleshy crest or 

 comb upon the crown of the liead and wattles on the throat. The 

 quills of the tail are fourteen in number, placed back to back on 

 two planes, and the tail coverts, greatly lengthened, extend in the 

 adult male with a graceful arch over the quills. 



The Curassows (CVax), of which there are many species nearly 

 as large a» a Turkey, are almost invariably of a deep black colour, 

 glossed with metallic reflections. Some of them are adorned with a 



7^ 



^ 



muA 





Fig. 370. — crested curassom-. 



crest composed of short curled feathers. They live in flocks in South 

 America, where they perch and build theii* nests upon the loftiest 

 trees. 



The Grouse (Tetrao) are distinguishable by a naked and generally 

 red stripe that occupies the place of the eyebrows. This family com- 

 prises the Heathcocks, the Partridges, the Ptarmigans, and the 

 Quails. 



The Capercailzie, or Cock of the Wood (Tetrao urogaUusj,is almost 

 as large as a Turkey. Although formerly common in tlie northern 

 parts of this country, this noble bird has been nearly exterminated : 

 efforts have, however, been recently made to restore, if possible, the 

 breed by importing a large number from Norway, where they are 

 still numerous. Some species of grouse, which seem to belong to 

 tlie northern regions of the globe, are defended amidst the snows, 

 over which they wander, by having their feet feathered to the 

 claws, and by tlieir plumage becoming white in winter. 



