298 



VERTEBRATE ANIMAI,S. 



each male having several mates. The Doves, however, pair for life. 

 The males take no part in building the nest or in hatching the eggs ; 

 and the young are generally precocious, being able to run about and 

 provide themselves with food from the moment they quit the egg. 

 The wings are usually weak, and the flight feeble, and accompanied 

 with a whirring sound ; but many of the Pigeons are powerful 

 fliers. 



The order Rasores is divided into two very well-marked sections 

 or sub-orders, called respectively the Gallinacei and Columhacei. In 



the Oallinacei are all the 

 typical forms of the or- 

 der, and the characters 

 of this section are there- 

 fore the same as those of 

 the order itself. They 

 are distinguished from 

 the Columhacei mainly 

 by being less fully adapt- 

 ed for flight, their bodies 

 being much heavier, com- 

 paratively speaking, their 

 legs and feet stronger, 

 and their wings shorter. 

 The hind-toe (great toe) 

 is placed on a higher 

 level than the three 

 front toes (fig. 212, A), 

 and merely touches the 

 ground in walking. The 

 foot is therefore specially 

 adapted for living on the 

 ground rather than for 

 perching on trees. They 

 are also polygamous ; and 

 the males may possess 

 " spurs," and are usually more brilliantly coloured than the females. 

 The leading families of the Gallinaceous Birds are : 1. The Tdm- 

 onidcs, or Grouse family, comprising the true Grouse and Black 

 Game {Tetrno), the Ptarmigans {Lagopus), the Ruffed Grouse {Bon- 

 asa), &c. 2. The Perdieidce or Partridge family, comprising the 

 Partridges {Perdix), Quails {Cotunu'.r), Virginian and Mountain 

 Quails {Ortijx), Crested Quails (Lop/iorti/x), &c. 3. The Pktsianidte, 

 or Pheasant family, comprising the various Pheasants (Phasianus), 

 the Domestic and Jungle Fowls {Gallus), the Turkeys {Meleagris), 



Fig. 212.— A, Foot of Black-cock (Telrao telrix). B 

 and C, Upper and under views of the foot of the 

 Wood-pigeon {Col-umba palumbus). 



