GALLINACE^. S07 



MusoPHAGA, Isert. 



Or the Plantain-eaters, so called, because their principal food is the fruit 

 of the banana. They are characterised by the base of the bill forming a 

 disk, which partly covers the forehead. The species known is 



M. violacea, Vieill. Galer. 47; Touraco violet, Vaill., Promer., 

 &c., pi. 18. Circumference of the eyes naked and red; violet- 

 coloured plumage ; occiput and primary quills of the wings crimson ; 

 a white line passes below the naked space round the eye. Inhabits 

 Guinea and Senegal. 



ORDER IV, 



GALLINACEiE.— Gallin,ij (a), Lin. 



These birds are so called from their affinity with the Domestic Cock, 

 and, like it, generally have the upper mandible arched, the nostrils pierced 

 in a broad membranous space at the base of the bill, and covered by a car- 

 tilaginous scale ; the heavy carriage, short wings, and the bony sternum 

 diminished by two emarginations, so wide and deep, that they occupy 

 nearly the whole of its sides, its crest being truncated obliquely forwards, 

 so that the sharp point of the fourchette is only joined to it by a liga- 

 ment, — these various circumstances, by greatly impairing the strength of 

 the pectoral muscles, render it difficult for them to fly. Their tail gene- 

 rally consists of fourteen quills, and sometimes of eighteen. The lower 

 larynx is very simple,. and consequently there are none of them that sing 

 agreeably. They have an extremely large crop, and a very vigorous giz- 

 zard. With the exception of the Hocco, they all lay and hatch their 

 eggs on the ground, on a few carelessly arranged blades of straw or grass. 

 Each male usually has several females, and takes no sort of trouble 

 either with the nest or the young ones, which, commonly, are very nu- 

 merous, and most usually able to run as soon as they have left the shell. 



This order is chiefly composed of one very natural family, remarkable 

 for having furnished us with most of our domestic poultry, and abundance 

 of excellent game; in it the anterior toes are united at their base by a 

 short membrane, and indented along the edges : these it is impossible to 

 divide into genera, except by means of very unimportant characters, 



Temm., Col, 23, or Opathus erythrolophus, Vieill. Galer. 49; — the Touraco iiun 

 {Phasianns africanus, Lath.) Vaill. 20, or Musopkage varie, Vieill. Galer. 48. 



(a) Gallus, the cock. — Esc. Ed. 



c c 2 



