250 



FEET OF GALLIXID.E. 



ing on that reach the seeds of herbaceous plants, when 

 they feed in a state of nature. They also scrape the 

 ground with their feet, not only to lay bare seeds, 

 worms, insects, and other substances upon which they 

 feed, but to detach the small pebbles which they 

 swallow to assist the gizzard in the process of digestion. 

 The nails to adapt them for this operation, are rather 

 broad and concave on their under sides. 



Common Fowl, 



These feet are all of the same general form, three 

 toes before, and one behind, the front ones generally 

 united by short membranes at their bases. The par- 

 tridges have the membrane extending as far as the 

 first articulation from the base ; and in one South 

 American genus, the hoazin, v^hich is more aquatic 

 than the others, the connecting membrane of the toes 

 is altogether wanting:. Some have the toes with tu- 



