GAME-BIRDS. 19 



the female being barred with rufous. The Guaus [Orialis] (53-55) j of 

 which three species are shown, are very similar birds to the two former, 

 but there is a thin band of feathers down the middle of the naked 

 throat, and no wattle. The remaining three genera, Pipile (56) ^ 

 Aburria (57), and Chamcepetes (58, 59), are remarkable in having the 

 inner web of the first two or three flight-feathers deeply excised. 



Suborder II. A l e c t o r o p o d e s. True Game-Birds. 



This group includes the Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse, which 

 normally nest on the ground. They are characterised by having the 

 hind toe {hallux) raised above the level of the other toes, and by 

 having the inner notch of the breast-bone {sternum) more than half 

 the length of the entire sternum. 



Family I. Phasianid^e. Pheasants, Partridges, and Quails. 



The large number of Game-Birds comprising this family are 

 distinguished from the Grouse by the following characters. The 

 nostrils are never hidden by feathers, and the legs are either feathered 

 partiall)^ as in the Snow-Partridges {Lerwa) (164) or wholly naked and 

 often armed with one or more pairs of spurs. The toes are always 

 devoid of feathers and never pectinate along the sides, the horny 

 comb-like appendages so characteristic of the Bare-toed Grouse being 

 invariably absent. 



This great family has been divided into the subfamilies Odonto- 

 phorina, Phasianince, and Perdicince, the first containing the American 

 Partridges and Quails, the second the Pheasants and Peacocks with 

 their allies the Turkeys and Guinea-Fowls, and the third the Old- 

 World Partridge- like forms. 



Subfamily I. Odontophorince. American Partridges and Quails. 



The American Partridges {Odontophorince) are distinguished by [Case 9.] 

 having the cutting-edge of the lower mandible serrated or provided 

 with a tooth- like process, well marked in the great majority of species, 

 but in some instances less distinct. 



The Scaly Partridge {Callipepla squamata) (60) is a native of the high 

 barren plateaus of Mexico and the States immediately to the north. 

 In both sexes the black edges to the feathers give the plumage a scaled 

 appearance. 



Of the Crested Quails {Eupsychortyx) eight small species are known 

 to inhabit Central America and the north-west of South America. An 

 example of this group may be seen in the White-faced Crested- Quail 

 {E. leucopogon) (62). 



c 2 



