16 

(Plate XXII.) 
In the genus Numida the head and neck are 
bare, and there is a naked fold of skin on each side 
of the upper mandible, and a very short tail, con- 
cealed beneath the tail-coverts. 
Fig. g. The Guinea Fowl (Numzida meleagris) 
inhabits swampy regions in Africa, where it lives in 
flocks of two or three hundred together, and roosts 
at night on trees. The bare head, ornamented with 
a brownish horn-like protuberance, gives it a peculiar 
appearance. The colour of the feathers is pretty, 
especially the pearly white spots on a_bluish-grey 
ground. The Guinea Fowl is a quarrelsome_ bird, 
and has a very disagreable cry. Its flesh is  deli- 
cate, and its eggs, of which a hen will lay sixty or 
seventy in the course of a summer, are also much 
esteemed. 
Order VII. 

Cursores. 
Family Ill Meleagride. 
(Plate XXIII.) 
In the Turkeys the head and upper part of the 
neck are bare, and covered with warts. There is a 
pendant fleshy protuberance on the forehead, The 
tail, which consists of 18 feathers, is rounded, and is 
often spread out like a fan by the male. 
Fig. f. The Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a 
native of America, but derives its name from its 
having been erroneously supposed to be a native of 
the East. The wild Turkey of the United States is 
a much larger and handsomer bird than the tame 
ones, measuring four feet in length. The head and 
neck are of a rich blue, and the dark brown plumage 
shines with beautiful coppery, purplish-red, and green 
metallic hues. Turkeys are reared for the sake of 
their eggs and flesh; but the Turkey Cock, like the 
males of most of the Game-Birds, is very easily irritated. 
(Turkeys.) 
(Running Birds.) 
(Plate XXIV.) 
This Order, which includes the largest existing 
birds, may be known by the imperfectly developed 
wings, and the smooth, convex breastbone, which is 
not provided with a ridge. On the other hand the 
legs are greatly developed. They have either two 
or three toes, with expanded soles and flattened 
claws. A hind toe is entirely absent. 
The beak is short and flattened, and the head 
and neck are either naked or clothed with short 
down. In most cases the tail consists only ofa tuft 
of flossy feathers. 
Family I. Struthionide. (Ostriches.) 
Fig. c. The Ostrich (Struthio Camelus), the 
largest living bird, exceeds seven feet in height when 
full-grown, and weighs two hundred pounds. Its 
general colour is black, but the large drooping 
feathers of the wings and tail are white, and forma 
valuable article of commerce. Its speed and powers 
of endurance are great, and it can easily distance 
a horse. Ostriches are found in large flocks in the 
sandy deserts of Africa and the adjoining parts of 
Asia. Their eggs, which weigh three pounds, are 
hatched by the females in rough nests formed in 
the sand. 
Family Il. Rheide. (Rheas.) 
Fig. d. The Rhea, or American Ostrich (Rhea 
americana) is smaller than the African bird, which 



In the Rhea, the fine plumes of the tail are absent, 
and the general colour is grey, the wings being paler ; 
and there are black streaks on the neck of the male. 
They inhabit the great plains of the southern districts 
of South America. 
Family Ill. Casuarida. 
Fig. b. The Cassowary (Casuarius galeatus) 
is a native of the Moluccas. It measures five feet in 
height, and is a stouter bird than the Ostrich or the 
Rhea. The Cassowaries have a raised horny or bony 
helmet on the head, hairlike feathers, and three toes 
on the feet. The plumage in the species figured is 
black, and the bare skin and wattles on the head 
and neck are blue and red. 
(Cassowaries.) 
Family IV. Apterygide. 
These birds have three large toes in front, and 
a very short toe behind. The beak is long and 
slender, and the plumage hair-like, without wing- 
plumes or tail-feathers. 
The Apteryx (Apteryx australis) hides itself 
among the roots of large trees during the day, and 
sallies forth in search of food at night. It feeds on 
insects, worms and seeds. Although it has no wings, 
their absence is compensated for by the bird’s great 
swiftness of foot. The few known species of Apéeryx 
are very similar, and are all found in New Zealand. 
They are comparatively small birds, hardly reaching 
has only two toes, while the American bird has three. | two feet in height. 
Order VIII. 
than the head, the neck is long and slender, and 
the wings and power of flight are well developed. 
The legs are very long, and are generally feathered 
only to half the length of the tibia. The toes 
are long, and are either free, or connected to- 
gether by a web. The birds are generally seen 
on the banks of rivers, or in swamps and 
marshes, where they feed on worms and _ insects, 
and on various small animals which they find in 
the water. 
Grallatores. 
In these birds, the beak is generally longer | 

(Wading Birds.) 
Otide. (Bustards.) 
(Plate XXIV.) 
Family I. 
The Bustards have a conical beak like a fowl, 
very strong degs, and only the three front toes, which 
are very broad. They have large wings anda short 
broad tail composed of twenty feathers. The birds 
are shy, but do not fly well, as their bodies are 
rather bulky. 
Fig. a. The Great Bustard (Otzs tarda) is a 
| magnificent bird, and the male attains the size’ of a 
