Vv PHASIANIDAE 199 
being curved, and overhanging the mandible, which exhibits 
two serrations on each side in the Odontophorinae. The meta- 
tarsus is strong and relatively short in Grouse and many Partridges, 
but in Pheasants and similar forms it is much longer; the feather- 
ing descends to the toes in the Tetraoninae, except Lonasa and 
Tetrastes, the digits themselves being clothed in Lagopus, naked 
and pectinate at the sides in the remaining genera. No other 
members of the Family shew pectinations or have the metatarsus 
feathered, save Lerwa, where it is half covered. The hallux, 
invariably elevated, has only a rudimentary claw in Lollulus, 
Melanoperdix, and Caloperdiz; Arboricola, Dactylortyxz, and 
Cyrtonyx, on the contrary, have particularly long and somewhat 
straight claws. Spurs are of frequent occurrence on the feet of the 
males, though rare in the females, some species possessing as many 
as three pairs; they are never found in the Tetraoninae or Odonto- 
phorinae, and are represented by mere knobs in derylliwm 
(Numidinae). The wings are short and rounded, with ten 
primaries and from twelve to nineteen secondaries, both decreasing 
in length as they near the middle of the wing, which has thus 
a bilobed appearance when expanded. The primaries usually 
increase in length before decreasing, but in some cases the exterior 
quill is the longest, while in Faleipennis two or three of the outer 
feathers are sickle-shaped, and in Argus the secondaries are 
enormously developed. The tail is extremely variable, being long 
and rounded in Lophophorus; long and sharp-pointed in Phasianus 
and Centrocercus ; moderate, broad, and rounded in Lagopus, 
Odontophorus, and so forth; similar but more truncated in 
Meleagris; short in most Partridges; and exceptionally abbreviated 
in many Quails. The coverts far exceed the tail in the Peacock, 
forming its splendid train, while they are much elongated in 
Chrysolophus, and to some extent in Coturniz, Kxcalphatoria, and 
Ceriornis (Tragopan). In Pedioecetes the two middle rectrices 
surpass the rest and terminate abruptly ; in Lyrurus the exterior 
feathers fork outwards; in Cvossoptilon and Gennaeus the 
median plumes curve over the others; and in Lobiophasis not 
only is this the case, but the rhachis extends beyond the webs, 
which are much reduced on the outer side of the lateral quills ; 
in Argusianus and Rheinardtius the middle pair is extraordinarily 
lengthened. The whole tail is compressed or “vaulted” to a greater 
or less degree in Gallus, Chrysolophus, Lophura, Acomus, Gennaeus 
