292 



BRANCH CHORDATA 



cock. They are polygamous, 

 males fight fierce battles. 



The rivalry is keen and the 



Thr only native bird of the pheasants is the wild turkey, now almost 

 exlcrnihialed by the sportmcn, beinf; found in a few regions of the Eastern 

 and Soutliern Slates, and in ( )klahon)a an<l Texas. Several pheasants have 

 been introduced into this country from China. The common chickens arc 

 descendants of the jungle fowl of liKha (Galtus }iankii>HK). 



The grouse family all nest on t lie ground. Their colors are chiefly brown 

 and gray, so they rely on concealment for protection. The " whirr " 

 accompanying flight is caused by the beating of their small concave wings. 



Fig. 238. — Quail {CoWnus Virginia' inis); 10 inches. 



specimen.) 



(Photograi)h from 



To this family belong the bob-white or " quail," tin- .sage grouse of the 

 West, and the once common prairie-hen of tlie Mississippi \'alley. The 

 male prairie-chicken has peculiar salmon-colored air-sacs on the sides of his 

 neck whic'li he inflates in making his " bmn-bum-boo " as he struts and bows 

 to his prospective mate in the courtmg se;ison. 



Order XI. Colum'bae. — This order is re])res(-nted in the United 

 States by the pigeons aiid doves. There are about 300 sjteeies 

 in the world, but only ten or eleven in the United States. The 

 head is small and round, the bill and U'gs short, the body 



