GALLING. 



fluence on the habits and economy of these birds ; 

 for the bones thus diminished are those to which 

 are attached the muscles which agitate the wings, 

 which being necessarily small and weak, flight is 

 feeble and laborious. Hence the Poultry reside 

 chiefly on the ground, or on the low branches of 

 trees ; rarely mounting on the wing except to 

 carry themselves beyond the reach of sudden dan- 

 ger, or to elevate themselves to their nocturnal 

 roosting-perch. With the exception of a few 

 species, they perform the business of incubation 

 on the ground, laying their numerous eggs in 

 a hollow slightly scratched in the earth, or at 

 most on a few carelessly accumulated sticks, or 

 straws. 



Very many of the species are richly coloured ; 

 and some are adorned with metallic reflections of 

 the most refulgent splendour. In general, the 

 male is larger and more gaily coloured than the 

 female ; and he is frequently distinguished by 

 some peculiar development of the tail or its 

 coverts. The tail in this Order has more than the 

 ordinary number of feathers, having from four- 

 teen to eighteen. The species, though inoffen- 

 sive towards other animals, are irritable and pug- 

 nacious between themselves ; the males of several 

 species fighting with a determined pertinacity that 

 frequently yields only to death. 



The Poultry are chiefly found in the conti- 

 nents ; the islands, unless very large, or in the 

 vicinity of a continent, being comparatively desti- 

 tute of them. The south and east of Asia, and 

 the deep forests and glades of America, produce 

 the greatest number of species, as well as the 

 most remarkable for size and beauty. 



