292 



BRANCH CHORDATA 



cock. They are polygamous, 

 males fight fierce battles. 



The rivalry is keen and the 



The only native bird of the pheasants is the wild turkey, now almost 

 extcrniinatcd hy llic sportnieii, hein^ foun<l in a few regions of the Eastern 

 anil Soul hern Stales, ami in ( tklahonui and Texas. Several pheasants have 

 been inlroduced into lliis countrN' from China. The eonnnon chickens are 

 descendants of the jungle fowl of India {(lallus bankivus). 



The grouse family all nest on the ground'. Their colors are chiefly brown 

 and gray, so they rely on concealment for protection. The " whirr " 

 accompanying flight is caused by the beating of their small concave 



Fig. 238. — Quail {Coli'nus virijinia'nus); 10 inche: 

 specimen.) 



(Photograph from 



To this family belong the bob-white or " quail," the .sage grouse of the 

 West, and the once cominon i)r,iirie-hen of I lie ,Missi.ssippi \'alley. The 

 male prairie-chicken h.ns peculiar salmon-colored air-sacs on lh(> sides of his 

 neck which he inflates in making his " bum-bum-boo " as he struts and bows 

 to his prospective mate in the courting 



Order XI. Colum'bae. — This order is represented in the United 

 States by the pigeons and doves. There are about 300 species 

 in the world, but only ten or eleven in the United States. The 

 head is small and round, the bill and legs short, the body 



