XVI IN TROD UC TION. 



key is far from being a stupid bird, and even man, with 

 his wisdom and variety of methods, has often need of 

 all his wits to circumvent these wide-awake feathered 

 creatures. 



Gallinaceous birds are terrestrial, but none of them 

 will hesitate to fly into a tree and walk or roost on the 

 branches, and they frequently seek the cover of the foliage 

 when pursued, for protection and concealment. They 

 are apparently perfectly at home upon a branch, fence, 

 or similar support, their rather long toes grasping 

 firmly the perch on which they have taken their 

 position. 



Grouse and Turkeys are generally polygamous, but 

 the Odontophorinae, or Partridges, are monogamous. 

 The females of those addicted to the former practice are 

 usually in the habit of concealing their nests not only 

 from their natural enemies, but also from the males, 

 some of which would destroy both eggs and young if 

 they found the opportunity. In the other class the male 

 is assiduous in his attentions to his mate when engaged 

 in the duties of incubation, not infrequently relieving her 

 by covering the eggs himself, and always shares in car- 

 ing for and feeding the young. It is a rather singular 

 fact that in most polygamous species the plumage of the 

 sexes is very dissimilar, while there is usually but little 

 difiference observable between those that are monoga- 

 mous. As a rule the birds contained in this volume moult 

 once a year in the spring before the commencement of the 

 breeding season, but the Ptarmigan are an exception, 

 and are in a continuous state of moult at all seasons, 

 except, possibly, for a very brief period after they have 

 assumed the breeding dress, and again in winter when 

 robed in white. All Ptarmigan turn white in winter, 

 excepting the Scotch Grouse, so called, which, possibly 



