GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



443 



ling the Peacocks in the richness of its costume. The Pheasants of our 

 preserves (P. ColcMcus] are said to have been imported into Greece by 

 the adventurous Argonauts from the banks of the river Phasis, whence 

 the origin of their name. 



The Barn-door Fowl (Gallus) is furnished with a fleshy crest or 

 comb upon the crown of the head and wattles on the throat. The 

 quills of the tail are fourteen in number, placed back to back on 

 two planes, and the tail coverts, greatly lengthened, extend in the 

 adult male with a graceful arch over the quills. 



The Curassows (Crax), of whicli there are many species nearly 

 as large as a Turkey, are almost invariably of a deep black colour, 

 glossed with metallic reflections. Some of them are adorned with a 



FlG. 370. CRESTED CCRASEOW. 



crest composed of short curled feathers. They li ve in flocks in South 

 America, where they perch and build their nests upon the loftiest 

 trees. 



The Grouse (Tetrao) are distinguishable by a naked and generally 

 red stripe that occupies the place of the eyebrows. This family com- 

 prises the Heathcocks, the Partridges, the Ptarmigans, and the 

 Quails. 



The Capercailzie, or Cock of the Wood (Tetrao urogallu8\is almost 

 as large as a Turkey. Although formerly common in the northern 

 parts of this country, this noble bird has been nearly exterminated : 

 efforts have, however, been recently made to restore, if possible, the 

 breed by importing a large number from Norway, where they are 

 still numerous. Some species of grouse, which seem to belong to 

 the northern regions of the globe, are defended amidst the snows, 

 over which they wander, by having their feet feathered to the 

 claws, and by their plumage becoming white in winter. 



