PIGEONS. 



339 



stripe that occupies 

 the place of the eye- 

 brows. This family 

 comprises the Heath- 

 cocks, the Partridges, 

 the Ptarmigans, and 

 the Quails. 



The Capercail- 

 zie, or Cock of the 



Wood (Tctrao nro- 

 -allns], is almost as 

 large as a turkey. Al- 

 though- formerly com- 

 mon 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 Nor- 

 way, where they are still 

 numerous. Some spe- 

 cies of grouse, which 

 seem to belon to the 



FlG - 37i- C 



northern regions of the globe, are defended amidst the snow., over which tliev wander 

 icir feet feathered to the claws, and by their plumage becoming white in 



winter. 



SECOND SECTION OF GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



The second sec- 

 tion of Gallinace- 

 ous birds includes 

 theextensivetribe 

 of Pigeons, some- 

 times regarded 

 by naturalists as 

 forming an Order 

 by themselves. 



The Pigeons (Co- 

 lumb<2}, like the pre- 

 ceding, have the beak 

 vaulted, the nostrils 

 pierced in a mem- 

 branous space, and 

 covered with a carti- 

 laginous scale, that 

 causes a considerable 

 prominence at the 

 base of the beak. 



FlG. 372. WoOD-PlGEON. 



222 



