238 GALLING. TETRAONID^E, 



juicy and savoury, and though not often eaten 

 now, was in former times an important addition 

 to great banquets. It was served up by the 

 sewer with much ceremony, dressed in its own 

 brilliant plumage. The adventurous knight of 

 the days of chivalry was accustomed to make his 

 solemn vows, " before the Peacock and the 

 Ladies." 



FAMILY IV. TETRAONID^E. 



The groups which form this extensive Family 

 are distinguished from the Phasianidce by their 

 more simple appearance ; by the absence of the 

 naked crests and wattles that are so common 

 among the last-named birds, as well as of the 

 brilliant colours and metallic lustre of their plum- 

 age. In the Grouse we find no naked skin about 

 the head, with the exception of the space which 

 surrounds the eye ; this, when present, is of a 

 scarlet hue. The tail is in general very short, 

 and in some genera only rudimentary ; yet there 

 are species, as the larger Grouse of Europe and 

 America, and the Pintails of Africa, which mani- 

 fest a tendency to the great development of this 

 organ, which is so characteristic of the Pheasants. 

 The hind toe which in the last-named Family is 

 long and powerful, is in that before us small and 

 weak, and in the extreme genera reduced to a 

 rudiment ; thus preparing us for the birds of the 

 succeeding Family, in which it is altogether 

 wanting. 



Though some genera of the Tetraonidce are 



