370 ZOOLOGY. 
The Galline are for the greater part very sociable birds, and many 
species are readily domesticated. They are more practically useful to man 
than all other birds together. 
Fam 1. Cracip#, or Curassows. A family of birds principally found in 
Mexico and Central America, and known by the names of curassow birds, 
penelopes, guans, Mexican turkeys, and others. 
There are about thirty-five species. 
Sub-fam. 1. Penelopine, or Guans. Bill moderate, slender; nostrils 
large ; wings short, rounded; tail long; legs and feet long and robust ; 
sides of the head and throat more or less naked. Size large. 
These birds inhabit South America, mostly residing in the forests and 
subsisting on fruits and insects, which they are represented as pursuing in 
the morning and evening. They construct their nests in trees, and are 
habitually wary and difficult to approach. The crested penelope (Penelope 
cristata) appears to be common. 
Sub.fam. 2. Cracine, or Curassows. Bill generally long, curved, com- 
pressed ; wings short, rounded; tail long; tarsi and feet very strong and 
lengthened; head crested. Size large. 
The curassow birds are found mostly in Mexico and Central America, 
in the countries of which they are domesticated to some extent, and 
hence are sometimes called Mexican turkeys. They are large birds, gene- 
rally of plain black plumage, with erect handsome crests. The red 
curassow, Craz rubra (pl. 96, fig. 10), is one of the SEP frequently met 
with. 
Fam. 2. Mecaropipa. A small family of about twelve or fifteen species 
of birds inhabiting Australia and the Pacific islands. They are large birds, 
having very thick and sii legs, and short curved bills, said to live 
mostly on berries. 
Sub-fam 1. Tallegalline. Bill moderate, rather robust, curved towards 
the tip; wings moderate, rounded ; tail long; tarsi very thick and length- 
ened; feet robust. Size large. 
Contains three birds only, which are natives of Australia and New 
Guinea, where they have acquired the name of bush turkeys. They are 
mostly observed in small flocks on the ground, and when apprised of danger 
seek safety by running into the deepest thickets, or into the recesses of the 
forest. The bush turkey of Australia (Tallegallus lathami) is the only com- 
mon species in collections. 
Sub-fam. 2. Megapodine, or Mound Birds. Bill moderate, rather weak ; 
wings short, rounded ; tail rather short; tarsi and feet very robust. Size 
smaller. 
The birds of this sub-family are found only in the Asiatic islands and 
Australia. Some of the species, particularly one which inhabits Australia 
(Megapodius tumulus), build very curious mounds of a large size for the 
purpose of depositing their eggs therein. These mounds have been observed 
upwards of twenty feet in circumference and ten feet high, and are com- 
posed of sand and vegetable matter. 
Fam. 3. Paastaniwwa&, Pueasants, Peacocks, anp Fowns. All the birds 
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