36 



ZOOLOGICAL 







of Reunion. The third member of the family was the so-called Solitaire 

 (Pezophaps solitarius), which occurred only on the Island of Rodriguez, 

 where it survived until the year 1761. It is reported to have been some- 

 what larger than a swan, with longer legs than the Dodo, and quite rudi- 

 mentary wings. 



ORDER PTEROCLIDIFORMES (17 Species). 



PTEROCLIDID-E (Sand Grouse ; 17 Species). Plate 18, Map iii. 



The Sand Grouse, of which three genera are described, were at one 

 time considered to be close allies of the true Grouse (Tetraonidse), but 

 they are now placed in a sub-order to themselves. They are essentially 

 inhabitants of desert regions, and in suitable districts are found in the 

 Oriental, Ethiopian and Palsearctic Regions. A single species is peculiar 

 to Madagascar, six are confined to Africa, one to India and one to Tibet. 

 Pallas' Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus) is remarkable for the great 

 irruptions it has made on several occasions into Europe and even into 

 Britain, although its normal home is in the Kirghiz Steppes and eastwards 

 through Turkestan into Mongolia. The chief of these immigrations occurred 

 in 1863 and 1888, when the species spread over Western Europe in enormous 

 flocks, occurring on those occasions in practically every part of the British 

 Isles. 



ORDER HEMIPODII (28 Species). 



TURNICID^E (Bustard-Quails or Hemipodes ; 28 Species). 

 Plate 18, Map iii. 



The Bustard-Quails are entirely confined to the Old World, ranging from 

 Southern Spain (where a single species occurs), Northern Africa, Northern 

 India and Manchuria to the Cape, Madagascar, Australia, and Tasmania. 

 Of the 28 known species no less than eight are peculiar to Australia, while 

 Africa possesses only four and Madagascar one. The remainder are found 

 in China, India and the Malayan Region, ranging as far east as New 

 Caledonia, but not occurring, curiously enough, in the large island of 

 Borneo. These birds are like miniature partridges in general appearance, 

 running swiftly but not flying well, dwelling in open grassy plains and 

 feeding on seeds and insect larvae. A remarkable feature in this family is 

 the superior size of the female, while the males perform the important duties 

 of incubation and tend the young when hatched. 



ORDER GALLIFORMES (479 Species). 



CRACIDJE (Curassows and Guans; 62 Species). Plate 18, Map iv. 



The members of this family are all natives of tropical and sub-tropical 

 America, ranging from Texas and Northern Mexico southwards to the 

 Argentine Republic and Uruguay. About two-thirds of the species are 

 found in the great forests of the Amazonian sub-region, while on the other 

 hand Chili and the West Indies are entirely without representatives. They 

 are handsome birds, some of them as large as Turkeys, and spend most 

 of their time perched high up in the trees of the forest. Three sub-families 

 are sometimes recognised, the first (Cracinse) containing the Curassows 

 (Crax) and their allies; the second (Penelopinse) comprising the birds 

 known as Guans (Penelope), and a few others; and the third (Oreophosinse) 

 represented by a single species, the rare and beautiful "Faisan" (Oreophasis 

 derbianus) of the Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala. 



PHASIANID^J (Pheasants, Partridges, &c. ; 244 Species). 

 Plate 18, Map iv. 



This large and important family of Game-Birds, containing 47 genera, 

 is entirely confined to the Old World, throughout which it has an almost 

 universal distribution. The great majority of the species are Oriental, but 

 they are also well represented in Africa and the southern portion of the 

 Palsearctic Region. It is impossible to deal with all the well-known members 

 of the family here, but a few of the more important may be alluded to. 

 The genus Caccabis includes nine species, known as Red-legged Partridges, 

 occurring in Central and Southern Europe, Asia, Arabia, and North Africa! 

 The Francolins (Francolinus), are an important group of 49 species, most of 

 which are African. The true Partridges (Perdix) are eight in number, and 

 range over a wide area in Europe and temperate Asia, with one species 

 (P. cinerea) resident and generally distributed in Britain. The Quails 

 (Coturnix), six species of which are known, have an interesting distribution, 

 one species occurring in Britain chiefly as a summer visitant, ranging 

 throughout Europe, North Asia, and the Indian Peninsula, and wintering 

 in Africa. Two others are African, the fourth Oriental, the fifth Asiatic, 

 and the sixth confined to Australia and Tasmania. The Tragopans, or 

 Horned Pheasants (Tragopan) are handsome birds, inhabiting the wooded 

 mountains of Northern India and China. Five species are known, which 

 are remarkable for the blue fleshy "horns" on the head of the' males. 

 Other fine members of the family are the Monals (Lophophorus), the Eared 

 Pheasants (Crossoptilum), the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus), and 

 the Argus Pheasant (Argusianus argus). The true Pheasants (Phasianus) 

 include about a score of species with many local races, the distribution of 

 which is shown separately on the map. In Great Britain and the greater 

 part of Europe the Common Pheasant has long been established for sporting 

 and domestic purposes, but its true home is South-eastern Europe and Asia 

 Minor. The Jungle-Fowls of the genus Gallus (see Map) comprise four 

 species, which are of much interest as being the origin of all our various 

 breeds of domestic fowls. Lastly, the Peacocks (Paw)— see Map— three 

 species of which are known, are familiar to all through their gorgeous 

 coloration. Their original home is India, Ceylon, Java and the Indo- 



Chinese countries, but one species (P. cristatus), has long adorned the- 

 gardens of the West, having been introduced into Britain at a very early- 

 date. 



MEGAPODIDiE (Megapodes and Brush-Turkeys; 28 Species). 

 Plate 18, Map v. 



The members of this family are mainly, though not exclusively, confined" 

 to the Australian Region. Seven genera have been described, but more than 

 half (seventeen) of the species belong to the typical genus (Megapodius), and 

 these include the two species which occur beyond the limits of the Australian 

 Region, viz., one in the Nicobar Islands and one in N.W. Borneo and the 

 Philippine Islands. The Brush-Turkeys of the genus Talegallus are four in 

 number, and confined to New Guinea and the Moluccas, while the Australian 

 Brush-Turkey (Caiheturus lathami) is a well-known member of the family. 

 Many of the Megapodidse are remarkable for their habit of raising mounds 

 in which the eggs are deposited. These are afterwards hatched by the heat 

 produced by the fermentation of the decaying vegetable matter of which the 

 mounds are composed. 



TETRAONIDiE (Grouse; 45 Species). Plate 18, Map v. 



The well-known birds which constitute this family are confined to the- 

 Nearctic and Palsearctic Regions, ranging as far north as Spitzbergen and 

 Franz Joseph Land. Eleven genera are distinguished, six of which are confined 

 to the New World, four to the Old, and one common to both (Lagopus). 

 The best-known Old World members of the family are the Red Grouse 

 {Lagopus scoticus), one of the few birds peculiar to the British Isles • the 

 Ptarmigan (L. mutus), confined to the mountains of Europe (including 

 Scotland) ; the Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), ranging over Europe and 

 northern Asia (including many parts of Britain) ; and the Capercaillie 

 (Tetrao urogallus), occurring in Europe and Asia as far east as Lake Baikal. 

 The last-named was formerly indigenous in Scotland and Ireland, became 

 extinct about the year 1760 or 1770, and was re-introduced into Scotland 

 in 1838. The American Tetraonidse. include the so-called Prairie-Hens of 

 the genus Tympanuchus ; the Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) • 

 and the Ruffed Grouse of the genus Bonasa. 



NUMIDID.5; (Guinea-Fowls ; 23 Species). Plate 18, Map v. 



These interesting birds, of which five genera are recognised, are entirely 

 confined to the Ethiopian Region. They have a wide range in Africa south 

 of the Sahara, while one species extends into Madagascar and another into- 

 the Cape Verde Islands. As a general rule these birds occur in large flocks, 

 frequenting bushy or scrubby places, and possessing great running powers. 



MELEAGRIDJE (Turkeys ; 5 Species). Plate 18, Map v. 



The true Turkeys, of which two genera are known, have a restricted 

 range in North and Central America. The typical genus (Meleagris) con- 

 tains four species which occur in the Southern and Eastern United States 

 and the tablelands of Mexico. From the best-known of these (M. gallopavo), 

 our common Turkey of the farmyard is descended. The second genus, 

 Agriocharis, includes only the Ocellated Turkey (A, ocellata) of Guatemala,. 

 British Honduras and Yucatan. 



ODONTOPHORID.E (American Partridges and Quails; 72 Species). 

 Plate 18, Map v. 



These somewhat small Game-Birds are divided among 1 1 genera, and are- 

 fairly widely distributed in the New World. The largest members of the 

 family are about the size of a common Partridge, but many are much 

 smaller. They are sometimes called Toothed Partridges, owing to the fact 

 that their lower mandible is serrated. The best-known species are the 

 Californian Quail (Lophortyx calif or nicus), a handsome bird, sometimes kept 

 as a pet in aviaries, and the Virginian Quail (Colin virginianus). 



ORDER TINAMIFORMES (72 Species). 



TINAMID^ (Tinamus ; 72 Species). Plate 18, Map vi. 



The Tinamus are an interesting group of Partridge-like birds, which are 

 entirely confined to Tropical and South America, and ranging from Mexico 

 (about the Tropic of Cancer) to Patagonia. They are essentially ground- 

 dwellers, and seem to take the place of such true game-birds as Partridges, 

 Pheasants and Grouse, all of which are entirely absent from the Neotropical 

 Region. They feed on seeds and roots, as well as insects, and cause some 

 little damage to maize- and potato-crops, while in compensation for their 

 destructive habits they offer such good sport and delicate eating that in 

 many districts they have been almost exterminated. 



ORDER APTERYGIFORMES (6 Species). 



APTERYGID.E (Kiwis ; 6 Species). Plate 18, Map vi. 



The curious flightless birds known as Kiwis, are only found in New 

 Zealand, and are among the most remarkable of all the feathered inhabitants 

 of that interesting group of islands. They are much smaller birds than the 

 Emus, their nearest living relatives, and are characterised by their long, 

 somewhat slender beak, four toes, and remarkable hair-like plumage. They 

 inhabit wooded districts chiefly in hilly regions, and are nocturnal in their 

 habits. Of the six existing species two are confined to the South Island, 

 one to the North Island, and one to Stewart Island, while the other two are- 

 found in both the North and South Islands. 



