102 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



passing through another narrower division of the stomach, 

 it reaches the gizzard, which is made of a very tough 

 substance ; in this there is a quantity of gravel, &c., 

 which the bird has swallowed, and these little stones 

 serve instead of teeth to grind up the softened food. 

 These birds, like the perchers, have a very strong 

 tendon in their leg, which passes from the toes up to the 

 haunch ; and as the weight of the bird bends the knee- 



Fig. 59- 



THE GUINEA FOWL. 



joint, the tendon is drawn up, and the toes clasp the 

 more tightly round their perch ; the effect of this is still 

 further increased when the bird rests on one foot only. 

 The principal families of scratchers are the Turkeys, 

 Peacocks, Guinea fowls (Fig. 59), Pheasants, 

 Grouse, and Pigeons which last are, however, some- 

 times classed as a separate order. 



Cursores, or Runners.* The birds forming this order 



* Cursor, a runner ; from cnrro, to run. 



