348 APPENDIX 



BOOK I 



THE GALLINACEOUS BIRDS — THE TURKEYS, PHEASANTS, GROUSE, 

 AND PARTRIDGES. 



Note. — Quails are gallinaceous birds, but as we have observed in the text, 

 there are no quails in North America. Bob-white, the quail of many North- 

 em sportsmen, is a true partridge, and is now so listed in the check-list of 

 the American Ornithological Union. Gallinaceous birds are often called Ra- 

 sores (Latin rasor, a scraper), from their scratching like chickens for food. 

 The birds of this order found in America are classified by the ornithologists as 

 Phasianida, the turkeys and pheasants, and Tetraonida, the grouse and part- 

 ridges. 



1. The English Pheasant. — Phasianus colchicus. 

 The Common Pheasant. 



This bird is very similar to the Mongolian pheasant (No. 2), but not 

 so handsome, and without the white collar on the neck. 



Hab. — England, where it was introduced over eight hundred years 

 ago from China. Recently introduced into many of the United States. 



2. The Mongolian Pheasant. — Phasianus torquatus. 

 Ring-neck Pheasant. 



Male. — Forehead, deep green ; crown, fawn color glossed with 

 green ; white stripe over eye ; naked skin of sides of head scarlet, dotted 

 with minute black feathers ; throat and neck, green reflecting purple ; 

 white collar about the neck ; back, black with crescentic marks of 

 bufty white ; breast, chestnut reflecting purple ; tail, long and barred 

 with broad black bands. 



Female. — Smaller ; similar in shape ; yellowish-brown color. 



Hab. — Many of the United States, where introduced from China ; 

 first on the Pacific Coast, in Oregon. 



3. The Wild Turkey. — Mekagris sylvestris. 



Resembles the common domestic turkey, but is far handsomer. 

 The plumage shines with metallic colors, gold, green, and bronze and 

 reddish-purple predominating. Head and neck naked, red ; legs, red 

 and spurred ; bill, red ; long tuft of coarse bristles pendent from breast 

 of male ; tail, dark chestnut. Length, about 4 ft. • wing, 21 in. 

 Weight from 12 to 38 pounds, possibly heavier. 



Female. — Smaller ; plumage less brjUiant. 



