GALLINM, 275 



delight in seeking their food upon the ground, and in scratching 

 among the dust. To this Order belong our game birds and most 

 of our poultry ; their flesh supplies a light and wholesome meat, 

 and their feathers are applied to various purposes both orna- 

 mental and useful. 



This Order is divided by Cuvier into two sections: the Gallina; 

 properly so called, and the ColumbEe."** 



SECTION I. 

 GALLING PROPERLY SO CALLED. 



General Characteristics.— Tarsi lengthened, robust, and sometimes armed with 

 a spur or spurs ; the toes more or less lengthened, but always connected at their 

 base by a membrane, the hind toe more or less developed, and when present more 

 or less elevated from the ground. 



The Gallinae proper are so named because they present a 

 general resemblance, both in their structure and habits, to our 

 common barn-door fowls. They are usually of a moderate or 

 rather large size, and of a stout and somewhat heavy shape. They 

 have a small head, often partially or wholly denuded of feathers, 

 and a bill of moderate length, of which the upper mandible is dis- 

 tinctly arched, and overhangs the lower both at the tip and along 

 the margins. As they are all essentially terrestrial in their habits, 

 their legs are always strong and well developed. The tarsi are 

 stout, and very commonly armed with a spur, or even with two or 

 more such weapons, which are especially developed in the males. 

 The toes are three in front and one behind, the latter being 

 usually small and slightly elevated on the back of the tarsus, but 

 sometimes more elongated, and then placed upon the same level 

 as the other toes, so as to be efficient in grasping. The anterior 

 toes are not very long, but stout, and often united by webs at their 

 base ; they are armed with strong and rather blunt nails, which 

 are of great use in scratching up the ground in search of food — a 

 habit common to most of the species, from wdiich, indeed, many 

 ornithologists give them the name of Rasores or Scrapers. The 

 feathers of the leg's are continued down to the articulation of the 



* See "Animal Creation," page 335. 



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