INTRODUCTION. XV 
The three subfamilies—PERDICINE, ODONTOPHO- 
RINE, and TETRAONIN®—comprising the family TE- 
TRAONID&, are known in ornithological language as the 
Alectoropodous (Greek ddéxtrwp, alector, a cock ++ zove, 
pous, a foot) Galline, or, to translate it freely, fowl- 
footed gallinaceous birds, characterized by having the 
hind toe raised above the plane of the front toes and clear 
of the ground; differing in this respect from the other 
section of the order, the pigeon-footed gallinaceous birds, 
or Peristeropodous (Greek zepiorepa, peristera, a pigeon, 
+ move, pous, a foot) Galline, which have the four toes 
resting on the ground, all on an equal plane. The 
Grouse are distinguished from all members of the order 
by having the tarsus, or shank, covered with feathers 
more or less completely, sometimes cven the toes are 
hidden, resembling in this respect certain rapacious 
birds, such as Owls and a few species of Hawks and 
Eagles: As they are mostly inhabitants of countries 
where the winters are usually long and severe, this pro- 
vision of nature affords additional and especial protec- 
tion against the cold, and guards those parts that are 
particularly exposed from the danger of becoming frozen 
and probably lost or rendered useless. 
The members of the subfamily TETRAONIN” have 
many characters that distingush them from other birds, 
not the least of which is the gracefully shaped and thor- 
oughly game-like head, high in the rear, or occipital 
region, with a broad and ample brain case, sloping gradu- 
ally forward and contracting toward the junction with the 
‘curved and usually powerful bill. The brain is large for 
the size of the birds, and it bestows upon them unusual 
intelligence, as shown in their cunning, ability to adapt 
themselves to their surroundings, and fertility of re- 
sources in avoiding danger. A Quail, Grouse, or Tur- 
