SUB-OEDER 



GALLINAE. 



Ch. — Bill usually rather short and stout, and less than the head. Basal portion hard, generally covered with feathers, 

 and not by a soft naked skin . Legs lengthened ; the hind toe generally elevated above the level of the rest, and short ; when 

 lower down, it is longer. Toes connected at the base by a membrane. The feathers of forehead not extending on the culmen 

 in a point, but more restricted, and parted by the backward extension of the culmen. 



As already stated, it is difficult to define the two sub-orders of Rasores so sharply as to 

 cover all the numerous occasional exceptions in regard to the bill, legs, and other points of 

 external anatomy. The case would be very simple if North American forms only were in 

 question, but in giving an account of higher divisions in ornithology, it becomes necessary to 

 take into account the many varied groups belonging to the world at large. 



According to Keyserling and Blasius there is an important difference between Columbae and 

 Gallinae in the outline of the feathers on the forehead. In the former these feathers extend for- 

 ward on the culmen in a point, and those on the sides pass directly but obliquely across from 

 the angle of the month to the base of this point and behind the scale. In the Gallinae with 

 feathered heads, on the contrary, the frontal feathers are more restricted, and are actually 

 parted by the backward extension of the culmen; the feathers on the side of the head extending 

 forward on the bill to an appreciable extent. The cutting edges of the bill, too, are said in 

 Columbae to be inflexed, and not overlapping, while in Gallinae they are more vertical, the 

 upper overlapping and embracing the lower. The valve covering the nostril, and the base of 

 the bill, are hard, not soft, and the nasal fossae frequently more or less filled with small feathers. 

 The marked elevation and diminutive size of the hind toe, except in a few families, is an 

 important character. 



Synopsis of families. 



A. Hind toe lengthened and nearly on same plane with the anterior, so as to be in contact 

 throughout with the ground in walking. 



Penelopidae. — Tail feathers 12. Sides of head usually naked. 



B. Hind toe short, elevated considerably above the level of the rest, but the end usually 

 touching the ground. Tail feathers generally more than 12, 



Phasianidae. — Very large. Tarsi, toes, and nasal valve naked. Tarsi generally in the 



male, with spurs. Head with naked spaces, or entirely bare. 

 Tetraonidae. — Of middle size. Tarsi, and sometimes toes feathered. Nasal fossae and 

 , valve entirely filled in and concealed by feathers. Head usually closely feathered, 



except immediately round the eye and on the superciliary region. 

 Perdicidae. — Size small. Tarsi long, bare. The nasal fossae not filled by feathers, 



the valve bare, the head well feathered. 



Jnly 3, 1858. 



77 b 



