394 



BIRDS. CRACID.E. 



ORDER V. GALLING. 



THE gallinaceous birds, or those presenting more or 

 less resemblance both in structure and habits with 

 our common poultry, which constitute this order, form 

 the real commencement of the strictly autophagous 

 birds, or those whose young can generally run and feed 

 themselves from the moment of their escape from the 

 egg. These birds are usually of moderate or rather 

 large size, and of a stout and rather heavy form. They 

 have a small head, often partially or wholly denuded of 

 feathers, and a bill of moderate length, of which the 

 upper mandible is distinctly arched, and overhangs the 

 lower one both at the tip and along the margins. As 

 they are all essentially terrestrial in their habits, the 

 legs are always strong and well developed. The tarsi 

 are stout, and very commonly armed with a spur, or even 

 with two or more such weapons, which are especially 

 developed in the males ; the toes are three in front and 

 one behind, the latter being usually small and slightly 

 elevated upon the back of the tarsus, but sometimes 

 more elongated, and then placed upon the same plane 

 as the anterior toes, so as to render it more efficient in 

 grasping. The anterior toes are not very long, but 

 stout, and often united by webs at the base ; they are 

 armed with strong and rather blunt nails, which are of 

 great service to the birds in scratching in the ground 

 in search of food, a habit common to most of the 

 species. Hence, many ornithologists give these birds 

 the name of Rasores or Scrapers. The feathers of the 

 legs are continued down to the articulation of the 

 tarsus, and sometimes extend beyond this point even 

 to the extremities of the toes. The wings are gene- 

 rally short and weak in comparison with the weight of 

 the birds, so that they fly heavily, and only to short 

 distances. Their plumage is firm, and often adorned 

 with brilliant tints, and some parts of it, especially in 

 the males, are frequently developed to an extraordinary 

 extent, giving the birds sometimes a grotesque, and 

 sometimes an elegant appearance. The feathers are 

 distinguished by the great development of the acces- 

 sory plumules which spring from the base of the stem 

 at its junction with the quill. 



The gallinaceous birds are spread over all parts of 

 the world, but the finest species are inhabitants of the 

 warmer regions. Their food consists of fruits, seeds, 

 herbage, insects, and worms. They are generally 

 polygamous in their habits, each male collecting around 

 him a seraglio as numerous as he can keep together. 

 In keeping off the attentions of rivals he is frequently 

 engaged in almost incessant combats. The females 

 lay their eggs, which are generally numerous, upon the 

 ground, in some sheltered situation. The young, as 

 already stated, are usually able to run as soon as they 

 leave the egg; but at night, or on the approach of 

 danger, they shelter themselves under the wings of 

 their mother. 



FAMILY I.-CRACIDJ3. 



The first family of the Gallinse includes a small 

 number of birds peculiar to South America, and known 

 under the names of Curassows and Guans. They 

 have a stout, arched bill of moderate length, with the 

 nostrils pierced near the base of the upper mandible, 

 usually in a sort of cere somewhat resembling that 

 occurring in the pigeons. Their wings are short and 

 rounded, and their tail long and ample ; their tarsi are 

 long and stout, and their toes are also long, but rather 

 slender, and the posterior toe is situated on the same 

 level as the anterior ones, and not elevated on the back 

 of the tarsus. These birds reside in the luxuriant 

 forests of tropical America; they live chiefly on the 

 ground, where they seek the seeds and insects which 

 constitute a great portion of their food. Their power 

 of flight is rather limited, as, indeed, is shown by the 

 form of the wings ; but they rise freely into the trees, 

 upon the branches of which they often roost and breed. 



THE COMMON CUKASSOW " ( Crax alector} Plate 

 20, fig. 73 is nearly as large as a turkey, measuring 

 about three feet in total length. It is of a shining-black 

 colour, exhibiting purple and green tints according to 

 the direction in which the light falls upon its feathers ; 

 the belly and tail-coverts are white. The bill in this 

 bird is stout and black, but the basal half of both 

 mandibles is occupied by a large yellow cere, and the 

 eyes are surrounded by a naked skin of the same 

 colour. The feathers of the top and back of the head 

 are elongated and curled, forming a curious crest, which 

 the bird can raise at pleasure. 



These birds, which are also called Hoccos, are found 

 in great flocks in the foret-ts oi* tropical America, where 

 they exhibit very little fear of man ; but when they 

 reside in the vicinity of human habitations, they become 

 more cautious, and are seldom seen more than two or 

 three together. They are easily domesticated, ami 

 then become very familiar, recognizing those who feed 

 them, and even pulling at their clothes when they 

 think themselves neglected. Their flesh, when young, 

 is very delicate. This bird has bred freely in Holland. 

 It lays its eggs on the ground, and the young run as 

 soon as they are hatched. 



THE GLOBE CUBASSOW (Crax gldbicerd) is of a 

 blue-black colour, with the belly and lower tail-coverts 

 and the tips of the feathers of the crest white ; it is 

 distinguished by having at the base of the bill a large 

 hard globose, yellow swelling. This species inhabits 

 Guiana, and is as large as the Common Curassow. 



THE CASHEW CTJEASSOW (Ourax pauxi) has the 

 upper mandible dilated upwards at the base into a large, 

 bony, crested tubercle of a bluish colour and pyriform 

 shape. The plumage of this species is black, with the 



