368 



BRITISH BIEDS, 



genera; they also have a "spur" on the metatarsus. The food 

 of the scratching birds consists of grain, seeds, and insects, &c. 



They are thus provided with 

 a strong muscular gizzard for 

 grinding the hard food. Most 

 Rasores build on the ground, 

 the female or hen bird gen- 

 erally only taking part in the 

 incubation. The young are 

 precocious, and can feed almost 

 as soon as they have escaped 

 from the eggshell. "With the 

 exception of the partridges and 

 grouse the flight is very weak, 

 — even the two mentioned can- 

 not fly for any length of time. 

 There is usually a fleshy comb 

 „ „ „ „ or crest of feathers, and often 



Fia. 189. — Foot of Gallinaceous Bird. 



naked and brilliantly coloured 

 patches, on the small head. We never find, as in the Doves, 

 a " cere '' at the base of the bill. 



The two families of the Gallinse are the Phasianidae and 

 Tetraonirhje. 



The Tetraonidce include the Grouse, Blackcock, and Caper- 

 caillie (Tetrao), and the Partridges {Perdix, and Caccdbis). 



The Phasianidm or Pheasant group include the Quail, Gotur- 

 nix communis ; the Fowls, Gallinw ; the Turkeys and Guinea- 

 fowls, MeleagrintB ; and the Pea-fowls, Pavordnce. 



The two partridges are the Common or Grey Partridge (Perdix 

 cinerea) and the Red-legged or Frenchman (Caccahis i-ufa). 



The grey partridge is widely distributed over Great Britain, 

 but is especially abundant in the eastern counties. It is said 

 to be decreasing there, owing to the increase of the red-legged 

 partridge ; but this can scarcely be the case, for the two flourish 

 side by side, and do not interfere with one another. In Ireland 



