By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 161 



observed and better known than is the case with any other Order. 



On this account it will manifestly be superfluous for me to enlarge 

 on their general habits, which are known to all : I^propose there- 

 fore to confine my remarks in this paper, to facts and^occurrences 

 not so universally acknowledged, touching very lightly on the 

 ordinary economy of the Order. 



Briefly then ; the characteristics of the Ground birds are these. 

 They are all granivorous, though they vary this hard diet with 

 softer or more succulent food, as the seasons and opportunities 

 oflEer. Their beaks adapted to the food on which they principally 

 subsist, are hard and horny, the upper mandible arched and the tip 

 blunt : their heads are generally small, and their bodies large and 

 full ; their wings short and weak in proportion to their heavy bodies ; 

 and their legs large and strong. But the real distinguishing 

 characteristic of the Order, which indeed is, I believe, the only 

 general mark of distinction peculiar to this group, is an anatomical 

 one, and is derived from the digestive organs. It may be described 

 in plain terras as a very large widening of the sesophagus or gullet, 

 which thus forms a crop, and lies when distended, equally on both 

 sides of the neck. 



In regard to their habits, they live principally on the ground, 

 where they seek their food, where most of them nest, and rear their 

 young ; from which they are often unwilling to rise, impeded by 

 the shortness of wing in proportion to the bulkiness of body ; but 

 over which they can run with considerable swiftness and ease. 

 They will however on occasion take wing, and then their flight is 

 strong, rapid, and continued, though heavy and somewhat laborious. 

 In short, unless when startled, they for the most part prefer to 

 seek safety in running rather than in flying. To this end we shall 

 find in the more typical members of this Order a development of 

 limb and a strength of muscle well calculated for speed and endu- 

 rance ; while the feet are constructed upon a plan widely different 

 from what we see in other birds : " the toes being short, and 

 strengthened by a membrane connecting them at the base ; with 

 the hind toe either entirely wanting, or but imperfectly developed. 

 Where this latter does exist, it is not articulated upon the same 



