CHAPTER II 



THE GAME-BIRDS AND RAILS 



IT is not easy in a few words exactly to define a " game-bird." Anatomical details aside^ 

 the most characteristic features are the small head and moderately long neck, and a 

 compact body, in which the wings, when folded, are almost entirely concealed. The hind 

 toe is always present, and the claws are adapted for scratching purposes — that is to sa\', for 

 scratching up the surface of the ground in the search for seeds as food. The wings are 

 hollowed so as to fit close to the body, and the flight, \\'hich is nois_\' and ne\'er long- 

 sustained, is nevertheless often exceedingly rapid. The young are hatched covered with down,, 

 and able to run in a few hours after birth. 



PhM hy C. Rtid~i 



[K'ish.tu'. ,V. 



RED GROUSE 



T/iis is one of the species in iv/iieh the toes are feathered 



Grouse and Pt.\rmu;.'\n 



The birds of this group are distinguished by the feathery covering which clothes the feet. 

 In some grouse, however, the toes are bare. This causes them to resemble the Pheasant group, 

 from which they may be distinguished by the fact that the toes are fringed with horny processes 

 forming a sort of comb. 



397 



