Order 15. GALLIFORMES. 



Family 1. Phasianidje. Pheasants, Blood Pheasants, Coucals, Jungle-fowl, 



Peacocks, etc. 



Old World fowls, with plumage (males at least) often highly modified, sometimes resplendent. The basal 

 characters of the group are difficult to define, but may include naked tarsi and toes, exposed nasal fossse, and 1st 

 primary shorter than 10th (or if longer, as in Pkasianus, then tail much longer than wing); and some few plain species 

 may be known only by these signs; but the tendency to the bizarre is so strong in most members of the group that 

 it expresses itself in a thousand fantastic ways: in lengthened, often many-feathered, or exaggerated, tails; in crests, 

 combs, wattles, and above all, spurs, as well as color-patterns of rainbow magnificence. Eggs plain-colored, cream, 

 ecru, cafe-au-lait, etc. Over 100 species, of which one extensively introduced in the Pacific Northwest and in Cali- 

 fornia. 



311. Mongolian Pheasant. 



Family 2. Perdicid^:. Old World Partridges, Francolins, Quails, American 



Partridges and Bob whites. 



Small or medium-sized gallinaceous birds, having notably compacted, "chunky" bodies; short necks; tails short 

 and not especially conspicuous, of 12-14 feathers, or various. The basal characters, naked nasal fossa?, bare feet 

 and legs, etc., do not distinguish infallibly from either the Phasianidrs on one side or the Tetraonidce on the other; 

 and it may be confessed that the name Perdicids represents only a practical grouping of a large and unwieldy family. 

 Thus defined it embraces more than 200 species, of which 3 Californian. 



I. A crest of lengthened feathers, straight or slightly decurved. 312. Mountain Quail. 



II. A crest of sharply recurved (curled forward) feathers. 



A. Darker; sides like back, with white stripes; abdomen chestnut. 313. California Quail. 



B. Paler; sides chestnut with white; lower belly black. 314. Desert Quail. 



Family 3. Tetraonidje. Grouse proper, Ptarmigans. 



Ground- or tree-haunting Galling having densely feathered nasal fosss, heads completely feathered, save for 

 strip over eye; tarsi more or less, often completely, feathered; toes if naked, then with comb-like processes on the 

 sides. Medium-sized to large species, non-migratory, or partially nomadic, chiefly northerly or alpine ranging. 

 About 25 species, of which 4 Californian. 



I. Largest; tail wedge-shaped, as long as wing and composed of 20 



stiff, pointed feathers. 318. Sage-Hen. 



II. Tail as foregoing but much shorter than wing, composed of 18 



feathers. 317. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



III. Color bluish dusky; tail square, of 16 feathers, not so long as 



wing. 315. Dusky (Sierra) Grouse. 



IV. Color mottled chestnut and brown; tail rounded, of 18 feathers, 



about as long as wing. 316. Oregon Ruffed Grouse. 



Order 16. FALCONIFORMES. 

 Family 1. Falconidte. Falcons, Hobbies, Merlins, Kestrels, Caracaras. 



Spirited and highly aggressive Raptors, having long pointed wings, tarsus more or less feathered, shorter than 

 the tibia; strong feet with lengthened middle toe and sharp talons; bill sharply hooked and notched near end of max- 

 illa; mandible truncated and notched near tip; nostrils included in cere, circular or nearly so, with central tubercle. 

 Eggs 2-6, usually 4 or 5; deposited in holes or crannies of cliffs; ochraceous-tinged in the lowermost calcareous layers. 

 Young covered with light down. 50 species, 4 Californian. 



I. Normally proportioned. 



A. Medium sized; 18 inches or more in length. 



1. General color brownish drab; 1st (outermost) primary short- 



er than 3rd. 319. Prairie Falcon. 



2. Upperparts chiefly bluish slaty; sub-rictal area projected as 



broad blackish moustachio outlined against white; 1st 



primary equal to 3rd. 320. Peregrine Falcon. 



B. Smaller; length not over 15 inches. 



1. Upperparts bluish ash or umber brown to blackish. 321. Pigeon Hawk. 



2. Upperparts chiefly rufous. 322. American Kestrel. 



II. Tarsi and feet lengthened and weaker; chin and sides of head 



nearly bare. 323. Audubon's Caracara. 



2090 



