T E T 



255 



T E T 



sanfs (Phasianus, Linn.) and the Pigeons (Coltimba 

 Linn.\ 



This great genus in the arrangement of Cuvier is mor 

 comprehensive even than that of Linnaeus, Cor it include 

 the following subgenera : 1. Les Coqs de Bruyere (Te 

 trao, Lath., ; 2. the Lagopedes, or Snow Partridges (Per 

 drix de ieig/>~) ; 3. the Ganga, or Attagfit i'tfrocles 

 Temm.) ; 4. the Partridges (Perdix, Briss.) ; comprising 

 the Francolins, the ordinary Partridges, the Quails, and th 

 C'tfiii* or Partridges and Quails of America; 5. the Tri 

 dactyls 'Luetp., HrmijivJiitx, Temm.), including Turnix 

 (Bonap., (Jrlygic, 111.), and Syrrhaples, 111. ; 6. The Tin/t 

 moi/s Tinanuu, Lath!, Crypturiot, 111., Ynambuf, D'Azara) 

 Of this last submenus Cuvier remarks that some, the Pezii. 

 of Spix, have still a small tail hidden under the feathers 

 of the rurnrj ; others, the Tiimniint of Spix, have no fail a1 

 all, and their nostrils are placed a little farther backward . 

 and he adds that one should distinguish Rhynchottis of Spix 

 which has the bill stronger, without any furrow, slightly 

 arched and depressed, with the nostrils pierced towards its 

 base. 



Mr. Vigors places the Tftrannidar among the RASORES, 

 observing that the groups which form the family are 

 chiefly distinguished in modern systems from those of the 

 Phaantitidrf! by their more simple appearance; by the 

 absence in fact of those ornaments to the plumage, and 

 those naked or carunculated appendages to the cheeks and 

 head, so conspicuous in the latter family, but which are 

 reduced in the present to the mere space that encircles the 

 eye. The still weaker conformation of the hinder toe 

 tends, Mr. Vigors observes, further to separate them; for 

 this member in the Tetraonidte becomes shorter and 

 gradually weaker, Until it is completely lost in some of the 

 groups. Tims viewed, Mr. Vigors is of opinion that the 

 family under consideration holds an intermediate station 

 between the P/t<i*i<nn<l>r, where the hind toe, although 

 articulated high on the tarsus, is yet comparatively strong, 

 and the Strut/iio/iiilee, where it is generally, if not always, 

 deficient. He further remarks that the groups which com- 

 pose the Tetraonidfe, corresponding with those that form 

 the genus Tetrao of Linnaeus, seem to be immediately 

 unit preceding family by means of the genus 



.mi.. which resembles them in the similar 

 of thr plumage of the head. This group, he 

 thinks, leads directly to Cutiinii.r, Bri>s.. and tile true 

 Perdi.r, where it has, he observes, been gi mgcd, 



and from which it has been chiefly .separated by the defal- 

 cation of a nail to the hinder toe. From Prnti.r Mr. 

 Vigors proceeds to Pteroclea, Temm., which, by its half- 

 plumed tarsus, is intermediate between that genus and the 

 true Tftran. By means of Lrignpus, Cuv.. in which the 

 toes as well as the legs are feathered, Mr. Vigors arrives 

 at tin- singular genus N///r//;</. HI., which is imme- 

 diately connected with fMtjgix of the same author by the 

 entire deficiency of the hind toe. With these groups, in 

 his opinion, the genus Tinamun, Lath., corresponds by the 

 slight conformation of the same member, the joint of 

 which is feeble and the nail scarcely developed. This 

 group leads him back again to Cnjjiti'iii/.r, which has no 

 nail to the joint of the hinder toe. The whole of I!K - 

 last-mentioned groups, thus united, correspond also, Mr. 

 Vigors observes, in the shortness or weakness of their tails. 

 Those of the Tftrnnniilif which exhibit a weakness or de- 

 ficiency in the hinder toe, lead Mr. Vigors, to the three- 

 toed groups of the Striiilii'midrr, with the bills of which, 

 more particularly that of Rhca, those of some species of 

 Tniiimiu, he observes, correspond. (Natural Affinities 

 thai connect the Orders and Fminlifx <>f Birds, in Linn. 

 Trans., vol. xiv.). 



Mr. Swainson makes the Trtr/ionidre form the third 

 family of Knxorfg, and states that, it is composed of the 

 artridges, Grouse, and Quails; all of which agree in the 

 extreme shortness of their tails and of their hind-toe : 

 they are also, he observes, remarkable for a total want of 

 that brilliancy of plumage which so eminently characterises 

 the Pavonidtr, between which family and the fit ruth i- 



nnlrr he places the Tetraonidee. The genus Cryptnin/.r, 

 he observes (a. small group of Oriental birds highly beau- 

 tiful from their elegant form and the texture of their 

 crests), has been thought, to connect the two ; a supposi- 

 tion, he remarks, by no means improbable, yet requiring 

 analogical proof. He then notices, as following these, the 

 Grouse : those of the colder latitudes, he adds, constitute 



the genus Tetrao, wKile Pteroclcs includes such as inhabi 

 the arid sands of Africa and Southern Europe. The northeri 

 parts of our empire, he observes, still furnish us witr 

 several species ; but he laments the extermination ir 

 Britain* of the largest and most noble grouse of Eurcpe 

 the cock of the rock (cock of The wood must be meant). 



Mr. Swainson goes on to point out how sometimes thf 

 side feathers on the neck of the male grouse are developer 



in a singular manner, so as to resemble little wings p 



character mostly confined to the American species (Te 

 traones Umbellus and Cupido). He also adverts to (he 

 several new additions to this group brought home by the 

 expedition under Captain (now Sir John) Franklin. The 

 African and Indian Grouse (Pteroclfs) have, he remarks, 

 frequently very pointed tails, and the hind-toe is very 

 small : heat with them, he observes, appeal's to be as essen- 

 tial as cold to the true grouse. But he notices one species, 

 Pt. setaritis, Temm., which extends its range to the South 

 of France. He then proceeds to point out that nearly all 

 the Grouse have the toes and legs more or less covered 

 with soft feathers ; but that this character disappears in the 

 Partridges an extensive group scattered over nearly all 

 parts of the Old World, but unknown in the New, where 

 they are represented by the genus Qdontophorus, Vieill. 

 In the Quails, he observes, we have the miniature resem- 

 blance of Partridges, but the tail is so short as to be nearly 

 imperceptible. Closely approaching to the true quails, 

 we have, he remarks, the genus Hemipodius, distinguished 

 by the total absence of the hind-toe ; and he adverts to 

 me extreme pugnacity of these little birds, a disposition 

 taken advantage of by the Javanese and other Indian 

 nations with whom quail-fighting is even a more fascinat- 

 ing amusement than cock-fighting is, or rather was for we 

 are happy to say it is much on the decline in Europe. 



Mr. Swainson then calls attention to that singular race 

 of birds in Tropical America called Tinamous by some of 

 the Brazilians, and Ynambm by D'Azara. With scarcely 

 any tail, their body is thick, and Mr. Swainson remarks 

 hat their whole appearance reminds the observer of a 

 pigmy Bustard, whicn group, he thinks, they probably re- 

 iresent in the New World. ' As for their flesh,' says Mr. 

 Iwainson in conclusion, ' we have often tasted it, and con- 

 sider it both in whiteness and flavour infinitely above that 

 of the partridge or pheasant. We believe these birds never 

 jerch, as some suppose, but that they live entirely among 

 lerbage, principally in the more open tracts of the interior." 

 Classification of Birds.*) 



In the Synopsis at the end of the volume, Mr. Swainson 

 )laces theTetraonidcc in the same relative position as that 

 ibove assigned to them. He thus defines the ' Tctraonidee, 

 -artridges and Grouse:' ' Bill and tail very short. Hal- 

 ux elevated ;' and he comprises under the family the ful- 

 owing genera and subgenera : 



Cryptonyx, Temm. ; Odontophorus, Vieill. ; Ortygis, 

 11. ; Tetrao, with the subgenera Tetrao, Linn., Lagoptts, 

 Villughby, Lyrurus, Sw., Pterocles, Temm., and Cen- 

 rocercus, Sw. ; Perdix, Briss., with the subgenera Perdi.r, 

 'hcetopus, Sw., Coturni.r, Briss., Ptilopachux, Sw., and 

 Ortyx, Steph. ; Cryptnrwt, 111., with the subgenera Cryp- 

 artis and Not hum*, Wagl. 



The Prince of Canino, in his Birds of Europe and North 

 \nirrica, makes the Gallinee the third order of his second 

 ubrlass. Grallatores ; and this order comprises the families 

 ^teroclida?, Phasianidcc, Tetraonidcs, and Crypturidep. 

 Tie order next in succession to the Gallinre is formed by 

 hie Grallce. 



The Pteroclides include the following subfamilies and 

 genera : 



1. SyrrhaptingB. 

 Genus, Syrrhaptes, 111. . 



2. Pteroelinas. 

 Genus, Pleroc^es, Temm. 



* Seft the article CAPERCAILZIE. The attempt at reintnxlnction lias since 

 een followed up witli every prospect of success bv the patriotic Marquis of 



Breadalhane. In 183H, and the early part of 1839, that nobleman received at 



teat in Scotland forty-four of these magnificent Grouse : they were all 



ned birds, and about two-third* of them were hens. They were col- 



eeted in Sweden with great pains and expense bv Mr. L I.loyd. Mr. Fowell 



uxtnn presented them to Lord Hteadalkine. His Lordship turned out part 



itn tli'- forest, and retained another portion in a laiL-'- aviary, lioth experl 



i-iTil' -I, ami it was ascertained that seventy nine voting birds had 



.-en h;ilclu d "nt in the season of 1839. Forty-nine were hatched out in tho 



vi:ir; by (ir.-y Hens (females of liiack (irouse). 



In 1838 three were sent to the Duchess of Athol at Blair, and several 

 ere forwarded to the Earl of Derby at Knowleslcy, where five yoimu bird! 



were hatched in the aviary in the Bummer of 1839 ; four of these were doing 



well when last heard of. 



