184 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Order GALLINjE. — The Gallinaceous Birds. 



(Page 2.) 

 Families. 



a 1 . Hind-toe small, short (much less than half as long as lateral toes), and inserted 

 above the level of the anterior toes. (Suborder Phasiani.) 

 b 1 . Tai-si without spurs ; head entirely feathered (except sometimes over eyes), 



and tail not vaulted Tetraonidae. (Page 184.) 



6". Tarsi, with spurs ; head naked, or else tail long and vaulted. 



Phasianidae. (Page 205.) 



a 2 . Hind-toe well developed, lengthened (decidedly more than half as long as the 



lateral toes), and inserted on a level with the anterior toes. (Suborder 



Penelopes.) Cracidae. (Page 207.) 



Family TETRAONIDiE.— The Grouse, Partridges, and Quails. 



(Page 184.) 

 Genera. 



a 1 . Tarsi and nasal fossse entirely naked; sides of toes not pectinated; smaller 



(wing less than 6.00). (Subfamily Perdicince.') 



b l . Cutting-edge of lower mandible without serrations ; upper part of tarsus 



feathered below the joint ; first quill longer than seventh. 



c\ Tail very short, composed of 12 soft feathers entirely concealed by the 



coverts; first quill longest, or at least longer than third; small 



(wing not over 4.50) Coturnix. (Page 186.) 



c 2 . Tail more than one-third as long as wing, extending considerably be- 

 yond coverts, and composed of 18 firm, broad feathers; first quill 

 shorter than sixth ; rather large (wing over 6.00). Perdix} 



&. Cutting-edge of lower mandible, toward end, more or less serrated ; upper 

 part of tarsus not feathered below joint ; first quill shorter than seventh. 

 c 1 . Tail at least half as long as the wing, the feathers normal, and very 

 distinct from the coverts; claws normal, the middle one much 

 shorter than exposed culmen. 

 d 1 . Tail about as long as the wing ; very large (wing more than 5.50, 

 tarsus about 2.00); plumage very plain, the head without a 



distinct crest Dendrortyx.' 



<P. Tail decidedly shorter than wing; medium to very small (wing 

 not more than 5.50, tarsus much less than 2.00) ; plumage 

 much varied, the head more or less conspicuously crested. 



• Perdix Bbiss., Orn. i. 1760, 219. Type, Tetrao perdix Linn. 



This genus includes the Partridge of Europe (P. perdix), a handsome game bird, about as much larger 

 than the Amerioan "Bob Whites" as the latter are larger than the Quail of Europe (Coturnix coturnix). 

 2 Dendrortyx Qodld, Mon. Odont. 1850, 20. Type, Onyx macroura Jaud. Sc Sblby. 



