GYRATORES. 217 



to these ; their feet, though formed on the Passe- 

 rine type, yet allow them to walk with ease and 

 freedom ; and many of the species habitually spend 

 their time on the ground, perching very little ; 

 the gait and manners of some species are closely 

 like those of the Poultry, and there is a sen- 

 sible approximation to the latter in the tones of 

 their peculiar voice. But, the differences are 

 more important than the agreements of these 

 groups : the Gallinaceous birds in general do not 

 pair, but each male associates with many females ; 

 they lay many eggs each time they incubate, which 

 is rarely more than once a year, at least in the 

 temperate zones ; while the Pigeons, as has been 

 said, mate, and form permanent connubial attach- 

 ments ; the females lay ^nly two eggs at each time, 

 but incubate frequently during the year. In the 

 Gallinaceous Order the posterior toe is jointed 

 upon the tarsus higher up than the other toes, 

 and touches the ground in walking only with 

 the claw, or at most with the extreme joint, and 

 remains perpendicular when the bird is on the 



Eerch. In the Pigeons, the hind toe is articu- 

 ited at the bottom of the tarsus on the same 

 level as the others, resting on the ground through- 

 out its length, and embracing the branch in 

 perching. 



On the whole, then, we adhere to the opinion 

 of those ornithologists who regard the Pigeons 

 as an Order of birds, containing but a single 

 Family. 



