348 APPENDIX 



BOOK I 



THE GALLINACEOUS BIRDS — THE TURKEYS, PHEASANTS, GROUSE, 

 AND PARTRIDGES. 



Note. — Quails are gallinaceous birds, but as we have observed in the text, 

 there are no quails in North America. Bob-white, the quail of many North- 

 ern sportsmen, is a true partridge, and is now so listed in the check-list of 

 the American Ornithological Union. Gallinaceous birds are often called Ra- 

 sores (Latin rasor, a scraper), from their scratching like chickens for food. 

 The birds of this order found in America are classified by the ornithologists as 

 Phasiafiidtz^ the turkeys and pheasants, and Tetraonidce, the grouse and part- 

 ridges. 



1. The English Pheasant. — Phasianus colchicus. 

 The Common Pheasant. 



This bird is very similar to the Mongolian pheasant (No. 2), but not 

 so handsome, and without the white collar on the neck. 



Hab. — England, where it was introduced over eight hundred years 

 ago from China. Recently introduced into many of the United States. 



2. The Mongolian Pheasant. — Phasianus torquatus. 

 Ring-neck Pheasant. 



Male. — Forehead, deep green ; crown, fawn color glossed with 

 green ; white stripe over eye ; naked skin of sides of head scarlet, dotted 

 with minute black feathers; throat and neck, green reflecting purple; 

 white collar about the neck ; back, black with crescentic marks of 

 buffy white ; breast, chestnut reflecting purple ; tail, long and barred 

 with broad black bands. 



Female. — Smaller ; similar in shape ; yellowish-brown color. 



Hab. — Many of the United States, where introduced from China ; 

 first on the Pacific Coast, in Oregon. 



3. The Wild Turkey. — Meleagris sylvestris. 



Resembles the common domestic turkey, but is far handsomer. 

 The plumage shines with metallic colors, gold, green, and bronze and 

 reddish-purple predominating. Head and neck naked, red ; legs, red 

 and spurred ; bill, red ; long tuft of coarse bristles pendent from breast 

 of male; tail, dark chestnut. Length, about 4 ft.* wing, 21 in. 

 Weight from 12 to 38 pounds, possibly heavier. 



Female. — Smaller ; plumage less brilliant. 



