234 GALLING. PHASIANID^. 



period, and enveloped in the mists of twelve cen- 

 turies before the Christian era. 



The beak in the Pliasianidce is arched, and the 

 nostril is covered with a vaulted, smooth, naked, 

 horny scale. The wings are short, rounded, and 

 hollow beneath ; incapable of rapid or long-sus- 

 tained flight. The feet are large and powerful ; the 

 tarsus naked, covered in front with large scales or 

 plates, and furnished with one or more curved and 

 pointed spurs ; the hind toe is placed higher up 

 on the tarsus than the thra|fc front ones, so that in 

 walking, its tip alone touches the surface; the 

 claws are slightly curved, and obtuse at the point. 

 The tail consists of eighteen feathers, which in all 

 are well developed either in breadth or length, 

 and in some extraordinarily ; in some cases those 

 of each side are set in different planes, so that the 

 tail folds upon itself perpendicularly, the under- 

 sides of the right feathers meeting those of the left. 

 In other or the same genera, the tail-coverts are 

 greatly lengthened. The males generally are of 

 superior size and magnificence to the females ; and 

 many shine in the most rich, though not usually 

 showy hues, and reflect the gorgeous refulgence 

 of precious stones, or polished metal. In most 

 cases some part of the skin of the face is naked 

 and brightly coloured, and many are ornamented 

 with wattles, combs, or feathery crests, . most con- 

 spicuous in the male sex. 



The torrid regions of Southern and Eastern 

 Asia yield the greatest number of species, and 

 those the most gorgeous ; but one genus, that of 

 the Guinea-fowl, is peculiar to Africa, and one, 

 that of the Turkeys, to America. 



