XVI 



INTlWDVCriON. 



m 



key is far from beinj2^ a stupid bird, and even man, with 

 his wisdom and variety of metho<ls, has often need of 

 all his wits to circumvent these wide-awr.ke feather 1 

 creatures. 



(lalhnaceous birds are terrestrial, but none of them 

 will hesitate to fly into a tree and walk or roost on the 

 branches, and they frequently seek the cover of the foliap^c 

 when pursued, for protection and concealment. They 

 are apparently perfectly at home upon a branch, fence, 

 or similar support, their rather lonjj toes p^rasping 

 firmly the perch on which they have taken their 

 position. 



Grouse and Turkeys arc p^enerally polyp^amous, but 

 the Odontophorinae, or Partridges, are monop^amous. 

 The females of those addicted to the former practice arc 

 usually in the habit of concealing; their nests not only 

 from their natural enemies, but also from the males, 

 some of which would destroy both ep;^gs and younjij \\\ 

 they found the opportunity. In the other class the male! 

 is assiduous in his attentions to his mate when engap^ed 

 in the duties of incubation, not infrequently relieving^ hcr| 

 by covering: the egj^s himself, and always shares in car- 

 ing for and feeding the young. It is a rather singular I 

 fact that in most polygamous species the plumage of the 

 sexes is very dissimilar, while there is usually but little] 

 difference observable between those that are monoga- 

 mous. As a rule the birds contained in this volume moult I 

 once a year in the spring before the commencement of the 

 breeding season, but the Ptarmigan are an exception, 

 and are in a continuous state of moult at all seasons, 

 except, possibly, for a very brief period after they have 

 assumed the breeding dress, and again in winter when 

 robed in white. All Ptarmigan turn white in winter, 

 excepting the Scotch Grouse, so called, which, possibly 



