i. Family TIN AMID JE 

 The Tinamous 



A family of terrestrial birds found in South 

 America (where it is represented by a con- 

 siderable number of species) and in Central 

 America north to southern Mexico. The 

 tinamous range in size from that of a small 

 quail to that of a grouse, and bear a super- 

 ficial resemblance to the partridges, but form 

 a very distinct group having a number of 

 primitive characters, so that the family is 

 made an order by itself. They are stout- 

 bodied rather short -legged birds, with a very 

 short tail, slender neck, small head and 

 narrow bill, though the mouth is cleft to a 

 point below the eyes. The wings are short 

 and rounded, and though they can fly swiftly 

 for a short distance, they generally try to 

 escape by running. Their plumage is not 

 brightly colored. The tinamous nest on the 

 ground, laying rather numerous eggs having 

 a highly polished shell. They are by no 

 means wary and being very good eating, 

 some of the South American species have 

 been brought to the verge of extermination by 

 sportsmen and market hunters. Many of 

 them have very striking and characteristic 

 whistled calls or songs. 



22 



