SCRATCHING BIRDS. 169 
than in any other birds of this family, are loose folds of 
skin well supplied with blood-vessels. These become 
redder and fuller when the Turkey is excited, just as the 
cheeks of man are reddened in blushing. The true Pheas- 
ants are allied to the Fowls. They are found wild in va- 
rious parts of Asia. The most splendid species is the 
Argus Pheasant, Fig. 137, a native of Sumatra, Malacca, 
and the southeast 
part of Asia. The 
beautiful eye-spots 
on its plumage sug- 
gested the name of 
Argus, the shep- 
herd, who, with his 
hundred eyes, was 
set by Juno to 
watch Io. 
277. The Grouse 
family is diffused 
SS) over the northern 
\ parts of America, 
‘{ Europe, and Asia. 
WAAVE They differ from the 
7 Pheasants in having 
no naked crests or 
wattles, and in the 
. absence of brilliant 
~_, colors in the plu- 
.. mage. They vary 
“much in size, the 
Partridges and 
Quails being birds 
of moderate size, while the Cock of the Wood in Europe, 
and the Cock of the Plains in this country, are nearly as 
large as the Turkey. The California Quail is a beautiful 
bird, having a delicate crest of a dark color, which it can 
erect or depress at pleasure. The Ptarmigans are an in- 
if 
LG @ 
Fig. 137.—Avrgus Pheasant. 
