606 COLLEGE ZOOLOGY 



borealis; the Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperi (Fig. 495); and 

 the goshawk, Astur atricapillus. 



Order 16. Galliformes. — Fowl-like Birds. — This is a 

 widely distributed group containing seven families, only two 

 of which have North American representatives: (1) .the Cra- 

 cipiE or curassows and guans, with one species in Texas ; and 

 (2) the PhasianiDjE, or turkeys, partridges, etc. 



The Phasianid^e are the true game-birds, and are known as 

 bob-whites, quail, grouse, partridges, ptarmigan, chickens, hens, 

 and turkeys. Among the best-known species inhabiting the 

 United States are the wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo silvestris, 

 which is the largest American game-bird and a native species, but 

 now nearly extinct; the bob- white, or quail, Colinus virginiamis; 

 the ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbel! us ; the willow ptarmigan, 

 Lagopus lagopus, cf the Arctic regions; and the prairie-chicken, 

 Tympanuchus amcricanus. 



The game-birds are, as a rule, terrestrial, but many of them 

 roost or feed in trees. Their nests are usually made on the 

 ground in grass or leaves, and generally a large number of eggs, 

 from six to eighteen, are laid. The members of one family 

 often remain together as a " covey," and in some species the 

 coveys unite to form large flocks. 



Order 17. Gruiformes. — Crane-like Birds. — The seven 

 families belonging to this order contain mostly wading birds 

 with incompletely webbed front toes. The families Rallid^e 

 and Gruid^e are represented by North American species. 



The Rallid.e are the rails, gallinules, and coots. The rails 

 are seldom seen, spending most of their time among the reeds and 

 rushes in marshes. The king-rail, Rallus elegans, of eastern 

 North America is a large species, being about eighteen inches 

 in length. The gallinules also inhabit marshes. The Florida 

 gallinule, Gallinula galeata, is a common form. The coots are 

 frequently called mud-hens, and sometimes hell-divers, because 

 of their ability to dive quickly. There is only one common 

 species, Fulica americana. 



