374 ZOOLOGY. 



nation, they ascend to the tops of the neighboring trees, and at the cluck of 

 their leader launch into the air for the opposite shore. Their favorite 

 food consists of acorns and other nuts found in the Ibrest, but they also 

 devour with avidity Indian corn, berries, insects, lizards, and in fact almost 

 anything capable of sustaining life. Since the discovery of America the 

 turkev has been extensively domesticated in all civilized countries. 



Another and very beautiful species of turkey has been discovered within 

 a few years in Honduras. Its habits and manners are little known, but 

 represented as very similar to the common species. It is domesticated 

 among the inhabitants of Central America, and is probably extensively 

 diffused over the country in a wild state. 



The Guinea fowls are natives of Africa, where they frequent the forests 

 principally in the neighborhood of rivers. They associate in flocks of 

 many hundreds, and are said to commit great depredations on the crops of 

 the colonists and natives. Their food consists of grain, rice, grasshoppers, 

 and various insects. Several species of wild Guinea fowl are found in 

 Liberia and other countries of Western Africa. 



The common species, Numida meleagris {pi. 95, fig. 13), is abundant in 

 ihe country from which it has taken its name. There are several other 

 and larger species, none of w^iich have been domesticated. 



Sub-fam. 5. Lophophorina;, or Shining Pheasants. Bill moderate, broad 

 at base, upper mandibles projecting ; wings moderate ; tail large and broad ; 

 tarsi and feet rather short, but very robus-t. Size rather large ; colors 

 metalHc and very handsome. 



A few beautiful birds of the Himalayah Mountains compose this group, 

 the most splendid of which is the fire pheasant {Lophophorus refulgens). 

 Its plumage has a deep black for its ground color, but with metallic tints 

 of every hue. It is said to be abundant in the ranges of the Himalayah 

 Mountains and to take wing readily, uttering a loud whistle, and that its 

 ibod consists principally of bulbous roots and insects. 



Fam. 4. Tetraonid^, or Grouse and Partridges. Is composed of the 

 birds familiarly known by the names of grouse, partridges, quails, and 

 others, all of which are frequently alluded to as game birds. They are 

 generally birds of plump form and with plumage of dull colors. Their 

 flesh is highly esteemed as au article of food. 



Sub-fam. 1. Perdicincs, or Partridges of the Old World. Bill short, 

 curved ; wings moderate, rounded ; tail short ; tarsi and feet moderate, but 

 strong. Size generally small ; colors plain. 



Contains all the partridges of the old world, of which there are nearly 

 seventy species. These are most abundant in India and other countries 

 of Asia, two only being found in Europe. Of these the red partridge, Per- 

 dix rubra (pi. 96, fig- 4), is the larger, and one of the handsomest birds of 

 the genus. It is found plentifully in the South of Europe, where it inhabits 

 cultivated grounds, and is hunted like the other species. 



The grey partridge, P. cinerea (pi. 9G, fig. 3), is the smaller of the 

 European species, but is abundant throughout the continent. It is a plain- 

 colored but elegant bird, living in fields or other cultivated places, and is 

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