347 

 Ohder III.— EASOEES.— scraping BIEDS. 



21^ 



Fig. 274.— Golden Phkasant. 



The present order includes the common Barn-door fowl, such 

 as the Cocks, Hens, Pea-fowl, and Turkeys ; also the different 

 kinds of Pigeons, Pheasants, Grouse, and Partridge. They 

 are not in general adapted for rapid flight. They have the 

 body bulk}^, the wings short, the legs robust, and the feet 

 formed for walking ; — the feet are also employed in scratching 

 the ground, and thus exposing to view the seeds or other food 

 on which the birds subsist. It is this habit of scraping or 

 scratching the ground, that gives the name to the order, the 

 Latin word raso)-es literally signifpng '■ scrapers." Passing bj 

 those which are living in a domesticated state, the species 

 known as native in these countries may be arranged in four 

 families — Doves. Pheasants, Grouse, and Bustards. 



Columhidce. — To this family belongs the Eing-dove, or 

 Wood-pigeon (Columha palumhus); it is the Cushat of the 

 poets, and the Wood-quest of the North of Ireland. This 

 species frequents woods, and in certain situations is so nume- 

 rous that many hundreds may be seen in a single flock. Great 

 are the complaints made by farmers of the injury they sustain 

 by the quantity of gi-ain consumed by these birds ; and some 

 who have advocated the utility of the Rooks have felt unable 

 to do the same with regard to Wood-pigeons. Not so, how- 

 ever, Mr. St. John. An agricultural friend called his attention 

 on the 6th of INIarch, to an immense flock of these birds busily 

 at work on a field of young clover, which had been under 



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