

148 AVES. 



deep that they occupy nearly the whole sides, its crest being trunca- 

 ted obliquely forwards so that the sharp point of the fourchette is 

 only joined to it by a ligament, circumstances which, by greatly im- 

 pairing the strength of the pectoral muscles, render it difficult for 

 them to fly. Their tail generally consists of fourteen quills, and 

 sometimes of eighteen. With ibe exception of the Hocco they all 

 lay their eggs on the ground, on. a few M careless!y arranged blades of 

 straw or grass. 



This order is chiefly composed of one very natural family, remark- 

 able for having furnished as with most of our domestic poultry, and 

 abundance of excellent game. 



ALECTOR, Merr.(l) 



The Hoccos are large Gallinaceae of America, which resemble Turkeys, with 

 a broad, rounded tail, formed of large and stiff quills. They live in the woods, 

 feed on buds and fruit, perch and build on trees, are very social, and easily 

 domesticated. 



The remaining genera belonging to this division are Ourax (Stone Bird), 

 Penelope (The Guans or Yacous), Ortalida t and Opisthocomus. 



PAVO, Lin. 



The Peacocks are characterized by an aigrette or crest on the head, and by 

 the coverts of the tail of the male being larger than its quills, and capable 

 of being erected so as to form a circle. The shining, lax and silky barbs of 

 these feathers, and the ocellated spots that decorate their extremities, are 

 well known in the 



P. cristatus, L. (The Common Peacock.) This superb bird, originally 

 from the north of India, was introduced into Europe by Alexander. Its 

 magnificent plumage is even surpassed in brilliancy by that of the wild ones. 



MELEAGRIS, Lin. (2) 



The Turkeys have their head and upper part of the neck invested with a 

 plumeless and papillated skin; an appendage under the throat, and another 

 conical one on the forehead, which, in the male, when excited by passion, 

 becomes so inflated and long, as to hang over the point of the beak. From 

 the lower part of the neck of the adult male hangs a tuft or tassel of stiff 

 hairs; the coverts of the tail, shorter and stiffer than in the Peacock, can be 

 erected and displayed in the same way. The tarsi of the male are armed 

 with weak spurs. But one species was known for a long time. 

 Mekagris gallo-pavo, L. (The Common Turkey.) Introduced into Eu- 



(1) Alector is the Greek name of the Cock. 



(2) MELEAGRIS is the Greek name of the Guinea-Hen, erroneously ap- 

 plied by Linnzeus to the Turkey. 



