OAME-BIRbS. 21 



Partridges {Bambusicold), the Stone- Pheasants (Ptilopachi/s), and the 

 Indian Spur-Fowl {Galloperdix) . The shape of the wing is perhaps 

 the most important distinguishing mark, and when taken in coimection 

 with the length of the tail is a useful, if somewhat artificial, character. 

 In all the Phasianina, with the exception of the two genera Phasianus 

 and Calophasis, the first flight-feather is much shorter than the tenth, 

 and it is only by using the combined cliaracters of the shape of the 

 wing and length of the tail that the two groups can be separated. 



Subfamily II. Phasianirue. Pheasant-like Game-Birds. 



The Pheasants and their allies the Turkeys and Guinea-Fowl may be 

 recognised by the following characters. The cutting-edge of the lower 

 mandible is not serrated or provided with a tooth-like process. The 

 first flight-feather is usually shorter, generally much shorter than the 

 tenth, rarely equal to it, except in the true Pheasants (Pfiasianus) and 

 the Barred-backed Pheasants (Calophasis), but as these possess very 

 long tails, they are at once seen to belong to the Phasianina. 



The most perfect type of Pheasant-wing is found in the Argus 

 Pheasants {Argusianus) , where the first flight-feather is the shortest and 

 the tenth the longest. A.s might be expected from the shape of the 

 wing these birds rarely fly, and always prefer to escape by running very 

 swiftly through the densest jungle. [Cases 



The Turkeys {Meleagris) from North and Central America are 9 ^ l^O 

 among the largest and handsomest members of the group. The chief 

 characteristics of adult birds are the fleshy wattles, which ornament 

 the naked head and neck, and the erectile fleshy process on the fore- 

 head. Of the four North American forms a representative will be 

 found in the American Turkey (M. americana) (73). This is a woodland- 

 bird, generally found in flocks, which seek their food on the ground by 

 day and roost in the highest trees. Though still found in considerable 

 numbers in the Southern and Central United States this species was 

 formerly abundant over a much wider range, but constant persecution 

 has exterminated it in the Northern and Western States, and changed 

 a once by no means shy bird into the most cunning and wary of all the 

 Game-Birds. The Mexican Turkey {M. gallopavo), a mountain species 

 inhabiting the high tablelands of North Mexico and the neighbouring 

 States up to an elevation of 10,000 feet, is interesting as being the 

 species from which the domestic breed of Turkey was originally 

 derived. It diff'ers from the American Turkey in having the upper 

 tail-coverts and tail-feathers broadly tipped with white. The most 

 beautiful is undoiibtedly the Honduras Turkey (M. ocellata) (74), 

 from Central America, the colouring of the naked head, brilliant 

 metallic plumage, and ocellated tail combining to make up a 



