TETRAONID^E. CXLIX. 251 



ORDER XXXIX. GAL.LINJE. (THE GALLINACEOUS 

 BIRDS.) 



Bill short, stout, convex, horny, not constricted ; nostrils scaled 

 or feathered ; cutting edge of upper mandible overlapping the 

 lower. Head often partly or wholly naked, sometimes with fleshy 

 processes. Legs moderate, stout ; hind toe elevated (excepting in 

 Cracidce), smaller than the other toes, sometimes wanting. Feet 

 usually slightly webbed. Tarsus broadly scutellate (sometimes 

 feathered) , occasionally spurred in the males ; claws blunt, not 

 much curved. Wings short, strong, concave ; tail various, some- 

 times wanting, often immensely developed. Palate schizognathous, 

 nasal bones schizorhinal ; basipterygoid processes present. Preco- 

 cial, often polygamous, terrestrial in habit and hence sometimes 

 called Rasores or Scratchers. 



A large order including the chief game birds of most countries, 

 as well as most kinds of domesticated fowl. The Hen (Gallus 

 gallus), the Guinea Hen (Numida pucherani), and the Peacock 

 (Pavo cristatus), are familiar examples of the order. All these are 

 now placed with the common turkey in the Old World family, 

 Phasianidce. (Lat, gallus, cock.) 



Families of Gallinae. 



a. Hind toe short, small, inserted above level of the others. 

 6. Tarsus without spurs; head feathered (or nearly so) and tail not vaulted. 



TETRAONID^E, 149. 



bb. Tarsus with spurs in rf ; head often largely naked, the tail often vaulted. 



PHASIANID^E, 150. 



FAMILY CXLIX. TETRAONID^l. (THE GROUSE.) 



Hind toe small, short; tarsus without spurs; head nearly or 

 quite feathered; tail not vaulted. Genera 12; species about 25. 

 Game birds abounding in northern regions ; the grouse mostly N. 

 American. (Lat., tetrao, grouse.) 



a. Tarsus bare, scutellate; nostril unfeathered, with a naked scale; sides of 



toes not pectinate (Perdicince). 



b. Head not crested ; lower mandible with its tomia serrate toward the tip. 



COLINUS, 404. 



aa. Tarsus and nostrils more or less feathered; sides of toes pectinate in win- 

 ter (Tetraonince). 

 c. Tarsus feathered about half way; tail fan-shaped, of 18 broad, soft 



feathers ; neck with a ruff BONASA, 406. 



cc. Tarsus feathered to the toes. 



d. Tail more than half wing, rounded or even; no ruff or peculiar 

 feathers on neck. 



e. Toes naked ; plumage not white DENDRAGAPUS, 405. 



ee. Toes feathered ; winter plumage chiefly snow-white. 



LAGOPUS, 407. 



