184 KORTII AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Order GALLINiE. — The Gallinaceous Birds. 



(Pago 2.) 

 Families. 



a}. Hind-toe small, short (much less than half as long as lateral toes), and inserted 

 above the level of the anterior toes. (Suborder Phasiani.) 

 bK Tarsi without spurs ; head entirely feathered (except sometimes over eyes), 



and tail not vaulted Tetraonidae. (Page 184.) 



fc'. Tarsi with spurs; head naked, or else tail long and vaulted. 



Phasianidae. (Page 205.) 



a'. Hind-toe well developed, lengthened (decidedly more than half as long as the 



lateral toes), and inserted on a level with the anterior toes. (Suborder 



Penelopes.) Cracidae. (Page 207.) 



Family TETRAONIDiE.— The Grouse, Partridges, and Quails. 



(Page 184.) 

 Genera. ^ ^ ' 



a'. Tarsi and nasal fossae entirely naked; sides of toes not pectitiated; sniallor 



(wing less than 6.00). (Subfamily Pei'dicina'.') 



i'. Cutting-cdgo of lower mandible without serrations ; upper i)art of tarsus 



feathered below the joint ; first quill longer than seventh. 



c'. Tail very short, composed of 12 soft feathers entirely concealed by the 



coverts ; first quill longest, or at least longer than third ; small 



(wing not over 4.50) Coturnix. (Page 186.) 



c'. Tail more than one-third as long as wing, extending considerably be- 

 yond coverts, and composed of 18 firm, broad feathers; first quill 

 shorter than sixth ; rather large (wing over 6.00). Perdix.^ 



v. Cutting-edge of lower mandible, toward end, more or less serrated ; upper 

 part of tarsus not feathered below joint ; first quill shorter than seventh, 

 c". Tail at least half as long as the wing, the feathers normal, and very 

 distinct from the coverts; claws normal, the middle one much 

 shorter than exposed culmcn. 

 d}. Tail about as long as the wing; very large (wing more than 5.50, 

 tarsus about 2.00) ; plumage verj' plain, the head without a 



distinct crest Dendrortyx.' 



d'. Tail dccidedlj' shorter than wing; medium to very small (wing 

 not more than 5.50, tarsus much less than 2.00) ; plumage 

 much varied, the head more or less conspicuously crested. 



' Pcnlix BnisR., Orn. i. IfBO, 219. Type, Tetrnn pcrrlU Linn. 



This gcnun includes the PartriilKO of Europe (P. prriiij-), a handsome (;amo bird, about as much larger 

 th.in the American " I!"b Whites" as the hitter are larger than the Quail of Europe (Coturnix coturnix), 

 » Dcmlrurti/x Goi.LD, Mon. Odont. 1850, 20. Type, Uyli/x macruura Jard. i Seldy. 



