GALLIN.E. "23 



characters of dicliotoiuous aii])Ucation, till ivc ilcsceiiil to irmiute particulars, socli as the sea- 

 sonal iuid progressive changes of ])l\unage, the system of coloration, character of the ef^gs, ice. 

 and these require to be carefully and extensively studied, in order to extricate the Cantor'-'i 

 from their present heterogeneous state of artificial arrangement, which, like most other classi- 

 lications based on the variations of a single organ (the beak), has induced a variety of approxi- 

 mations at variance with natural aliinity. To detail our own views on the arrangement of 

 this great order, would reijiiire more s|)ace than tlie natiu-e of the ]iresent work wouh) 

 allow ; it must snifiee, therefore, to refer to the few hints which have been given in the 

 details of the various genera. 



The tinir orders here indicated have a vague general character m common, which is not 

 easy to define or even express : it partially consists in the magnitude of the head, as compared 

 with the subsequent divisions generally ; and a hind toe being alwaj-s ])resent, on the same 

 plane with those in front, the great majority of them perdi and traverse the Ixnighs of trees 

 with comparative facility, while the remainder are too obviously alhed to admit of separation]. 



THE FOURTH ORDER OF BIRD:' 



THE PIJULTRY, (GalliX-H, Lin.)— 



Are so named from their aflfinitj' to the Domestic Cock, in common with whieli they have 

 generally the u])per inandd)le vaulted, the nostrils pierced in a large membranous space at the 

 base of the beak, and covered by a cartilaginous scale. Their heavy carriage, short wings, 

 and bony sternum (fig. 107), diminished bv tivo emargiuations so wide and deep that they 



occupy nearly its wdiole lateral portion, its crest being ob- 

 liquely truncated in front, so that the sharp edge of [an 

 ajipendage to] the fourchette is only joined to it by liga- 

 ment, are circumstances which, by greatly impairing the 

 force of the pectoral muscles, render their flight laborious. 

 The tail has generally fourteen, and sometimes eighteen, 

 quill-feathers. Their inferior larynx is very simple, so that 

 none of them can sing. They have an extremely muscular 

 gizzard, and [most generally] a large [globidar] cro]). If 

 we exce])t the Curassows, they lay and incubate on the 

 groimd, on a few carelessly arranged stems of straw or grass. 

 Each male has ordinarily several females, and takes no sort 

 of trouble either with the nest or young ones, which are 

 generally very numerous, and., in most cases, are able to 

 run as soon as they quit tlie shell. 



[We should observe, that exce])tions occur to almost all 

 these generalizations in the course of the series, which will 

 be pointed out as they arise. In the polygamous species, the male is always Larger and more 

 ti-aily coloured than the female ; while in such as are monogamous, (as Ptarmigan and Par- 

 tridges,) the sexes nearly or quite resemble, tjoth in size and colour. This diversity is appa- 

 rent in some species that are otherwise closely allied together. The head is very small, as 

 compared with the members of the preceding orders generally; and the number of cervical 

 vertebra; is irregular and always greater.] 



The Poultry constitute, for the most part, a very natural family, remarkable for having fur- 

 nished us with the greater number of our farm-yard fowls, and with much excellent game. 

 Their anterior toes are connected at base by a short membrane, the edges of which are dente- 



Fig. 111/-.. 



