THE CLASS BIBDS. 309 



451. Gallinaceous birds have the bill moderately en- 

 larged above, and adapted only for a granivorous regime : 

 the wings are short, the body heavy, the legs moderate, and 

 the toes feeble, but united generally at their base by a small 

 cutaneous fold. The majority of these birds fly badly ; they do 

 not build their nests in trees, and they seek for their food on 



Fig. 262. The Parroquet (Ara). 



the soil. This order is composed of two distinct families ; 

 that of pigeons and that of the gallinaceous birds, properly so 

 called, comprising the cock, the pheasant, the peacock, the 

 turkey, the pintado or guinea fowl, the hocco (Fig. 264), the 

 partridge, the quail, the ptarmigan (Fig. 263), the grouse, &c. 

 452. The waders (echassiers) are known by their elevated 



