7" da | 
Ae 
166 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
(Tem.). It is strikingly distinguished from the I 
the peculiar form of its tail, and by aAcetl 
spurs to the feet. Destitute of the vivid and sh ini 
colours of the true peacocks, this bird is perhaps equé 
beautiful, being covered almost entirely with dark rng 
or eyelike spots upon a cinnamon coloured ground. — 
the genus Argus Tem., little is known beyond its being 
a very shy and delicately constructed bird. In that | 
Gallus is comprised the different species and varie Rs 
of our domestic fowl; since it is now generally 
admitted that these have originated from races perfectly 
distinct. M. Temminck, who has investigated this 
subject with great ability, conceives that our common 
poultry have descended from the Gallus giganteus anc 
the Gallus Bankiva: the first a very large species, 
inhabiting Sumatra; the other much smaller and 
common in Java. The genus Lophophorus, likewise 
Indian, comprehends the famous Impeyan pheasant of 
Latham, whose plumage can only be compared to the 
most refulgent hues of variously coloured polished 
metals. We are next led to the beautiful group of 
pheasants ; one of which, — the common species of our 
_ preserves, — is well known: like all its congeners, its 
native country is towards Asia ; and, however beautiful, 
it can scarcely be compared with several others, nativ 
of China, Japan, and the elevated mountains of Thibet. 
Africa furnishes us with only one genus in the Guinea- 
fowl (Numida L.), flocks of which occur in the swamps 
of Western Africa, and represent, in those pestilenail 
regions, the turkey of the New World. 
(188.) The Tetraonip# form the third family, com- 
posed of the partridges, grouse, and quails; all of which 
birds agree in the extreme shortness of their tails, and 
of their hind toe: they are also remarkable for a total 
want of that brilliancy of plumage which so eminently 
characterises the last family. The genus Cryptonya has 
been thought to connect the two,—a supposition by no’ 
means improbable, yet requiring analogical proof. It is” 
a small group of Oriental birds, highly beautiful from | 
