CURASSOWS. 225 



Six Families are included in this Order, viz., 

 Cracidce, Megapodidce, Phasianidce, Tetraonidce, 

 Chionidid&y and Tinamidce. 



FAMILY I. CRACIDJE. 



(Curassows.) 



In these large fowls of South America, which 

 somewhat resemble the Turkeys, we find an ex- 

 ception to one important character of the Galli- 

 naceous Order, which indicates a connexion with 

 the Passerine birds. The hind toe is articulated 

 on the same plane as the others, touching the 

 ground in its whole length when walking, and 

 thus the foot is constructed on the type of that of 

 the Perchers, In conformity with such a struc- 

 ture, these birds possess habits much more arbo- 

 real than the other Poultry-birds, spending a 

 great deal of their time on the trees of the dense 

 forests in which they reside, forming their nests 

 among their branches, and feeding on their buds 

 and fruit. The curved form of the claws, their 

 compressed sides, and their acute points, afford 

 additional indications that these birds are not 

 habitually employed in walking and scratching 

 the ground. The tarsi, too, are destitute of spurs. 

 In other particulars, however, these birds adhere 

 to the distinctive characters of the Order. 



The Curassows are some of the most valuable 

 additions that America has made to our domestic 

 Poultry, though they are as yet but partially in- 

 troduced into England. One of the objects of 

 the formation of the Zoological Society of Lon- 

 don, was the introduction and domestication of 



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