374 ZOOLOGY. 
nation, they ascend to the tops of the neighboring trees, and at the cluck of 
their leader launch into the air for the opposite shore. Their favorite 
food consists of acorns and other nuts found in the forest, but they also 
devour with avidity Indian corn, berries, insects, lizards, and in fact almost 
anything capable of sustaining life. Since the discovery of America the 
turkey has been extensively domesticated in all civilized countries. 
Another and very beautiful species of turkey has been discovered within 
a few years in Honduras. Its habits and manners are little known, but 
represented as very similar to the common species. It is domesticated 
among the inhabitants of Central America, and is probably extensively 
diffused over the country in a wild state. 
The Guinea fowls are natives of Africa, where they frequent the forests 
principally in the neighborhood of rivers. They associate in flocks of 
many hundreds, and are said to commit great depredations on the crops of 
the colonists and natives. Their food consists of grain, rice, grasshoppers, 
and varieus insects. Several species of wild Guinea fowl are found in 
Liberia and other countries of Western Africa. 
The common species, Numida meleagris (pl. 95, fig. 13), is abundant in 
the country from which it has taken its name. There are several other 
and larger species, none of which have been domesticated. | 
Sub-fam. 5. Lophophorine, or Shining Pheasants. Bill moderate, broad 
at base, upper mandibles projecting ; wings moderate ; tail large and broad ; 
tarsi and feet rather short, but very robust. Size rather large; colors 
metallic and very handsome. 
A few beautiful birds of the Himalayah Mountains compose this group, 
the most splendid of which is the fire pheasant (Lophophorus refulgens). 
Its plumage has a deep black for its ground color, but with metallic tints 
of every hue. It is said to be abundant in the ranges of the Himalayah 
Mountains and to take wing readily, uttering a loud whistle, and that its 
food consists principally of bulbous roots and insects. 
Fam. 4. Terraonip4, or Grouse anp Partringes. Is composed of the 
birds familiarly known by the names of grouse, partridges, quails, and 
others, all of which are frequently alluded to as game birds. They are 
generally birds ef plump form and with plumage of dull colors. Their 
flesh is highly esteemed as an article of food. 
Sub-fam. 1. Perdicine, or Partridges of the Old World. Bill short, 
curved; wings moderate, rounded ; tail short; tarsi and feet moderate, but 
strong. Size generally small; colors plain. 
Contains all the partridges of the old world, of which there are nearly 
seventy species. These are most abundant in India and other countries 
of Asia, two only being found in Europe. Of these the red partridge, Per- 
dix rubra (pl. 96, fig. 4), is the larger, and one of the handsomest birds of 
the genus. It is found plentifully in the South of Europe, where it inhabits 
cultivated grounds, and is hunted like the other species. 
The grey partridge, P. cinerea (pl. 96, fig. 3), is the smaller of the 
European species, but is abundant throughout the continent. It is a plain- 
colored but elegant bird, living in fields er other cultivated places, and is 
578 
