V8 • CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



SECTION XVII. 



4th Order — Hen-like Birds: (Gallina.) 



$315. Hen-like or Gallinaceous birds are those which 

 have a convex bill, covered with a fleshy membrane at 

 its base, and the forward toes partially united at the base ; 

 as the pea-fowl, turkey, guinea-hen, common hen, pigeon, 

 partridge, and quail. 



§316. The Peacock (Pavo cristatus) is, with its tail, 

 four feet long ; has on the head a tuft, consisting of 

 twenty- four golden-green feathers ; body golden-green 

 and greenish-black, with rings the color of the rainbow 

 at the end of the tail. 



§317. The Peacock is a native of Hindoosian, but is 

 now dopiesticated in all parts of the world, partly as an 

 ornament, and partly for its flesh. 



§318. Pea-fowls were first domesticated by Solomon, 

 to whom they were brought from the Ganges ; and after- 

 wards they were introduced by Alexander the Great, in 

 the third century before Christ, into Greece, from which 

 country they have spread over all Europe. 



§319. Young Pea-fowls are considered a great deli- 

 cacy for the table, and the Roman emperor Viteilius 

 often treated his guests with the costly dish of the brains 

 of pea-fowls and partridges, mixed with the tongues of 

 flamingoes. 



§ 320. The Pea-hens in our climate lay from 12 to 18 

 yellowish spotted eggs, in the month of May ; but as they 

 are negligent in setting, it is better to place the eggn 

 under hens, which will hatch them in four weeks. 



§321. The Pea-fowls do not like to associate with 

 turkeys and geese ; but they are fond of the company of 

 guinea-fowls, chickens, and ducks. They live to the age 

 of twenty-five years. 



§ 322. The Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) is of the 

 size of a goose, of a dark purple-color, has a bare neck 



