Order  V.  GALLING. 
The  sixth  Family, 
TINAMIDiE,  or  Tinamous, 
have  the  Bill  as  long  as,  or  shorter  than,  the  head  ;  the  culmen  more  or  less  straight,  flattened,  and 
covered  at  the  base  with  a  membrane,  which  also  envelopes  the  nasal  grooves ;  the  tip  generally  suddenly 
hooked,  and  overlapping  that  of  the  lower  mandible  ;  the  Nostrils  large,  and  more  or  less  basal  ;  the 
Wings  short,  concave,  and  rounded  ;  the  Tarsi  moderate,  and  shielded  in  front ;  and  the  Toes  usually 
long,  mostly  four,  but  sometimes  only  three. 
The  first  and  only  Subfamily, 
TINAMIISLE,  or  Tinamous, 
have  the  characters  as  given  above. 
Tinamus  Lath* 
Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  with  the  culmen  broad,  and  flattened  at  the  base,  straight  and  suddenly 
hooked  at  the  tip,  which  overlaps  the  lower  mandible ;  the  sides  compressed,  and  the  lateral  margins 
slightly  curved  ;  the  nostrils  large,  membranous,  with  the  opening  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  bill. 
Wings  short,  rounded,  with  the  fourth  and  fifth  quills  the  longest.  Tail  very  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi 
much  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  and  broadly  scutellated  in  front.  Toes  moderate,  the  lateral  ones 
unequal,  and  the  hind  toe  very  short  and  elevated. 
These  birds  frequent  the  immense  forests  of  South  America.  They  are  said  to  roost  on  the  lower  branches  of  the 
trees,  about  two  or  three  feet  from  the  ground.  Their  note  is  a  shrill  whistle,  which  is  uttered  more  especially  at 
sunset  and  at  break  of  day.  Their  food  consists  of  fruits  and  grains,  as  well  as  worms  and  insects.  The  nest  is  com- 
posed of  dry  herbage,  and  placed  on  the  ground  near  the  stump  of  a  large  tree.  The  female  lays  from  twelve  to 
sixteen  eggs ;  and,  if  disturbed,  she  is  said  to  roll  the  eggs  to  another  place  for  safety.  The  young  follow  the  parent  as 
soon  as  hatched,  and  hide  themselves  on  the  least  approach  of  danger. 
1.  T.  Tao  (Teram.)  Pig.  &  Gall.  iii.  569.  —  Cryptura  solitaria 
Vieill. 
2.  T.  canus  (WagL)  Isis,  1829.  7-16. 
3.  T.  major  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  476.  —  Tinamus  brasiliensis  Lath.  ; 
Cryptura  Magoua  Vieill. ;  Pezus  serratus  Spiz,  Av.  Bras.  t.  76. 
4.  T.  adspersus  Temm.  Pig.  &  Gall.  iii.  585.  —  Pezus  Yapura 
Spix,  Av.  Bras.  t.  78. 
5.  T.  vermieulatus  Temm.  PI.  col.  36Q. — Crypturus  adspersus 
Licht. 
6.  T.  cinereus  (Gmel.)  Lath. 
7.  T.  noctivagus  Pr.  Max.  Reise,  1.  160. —  Pezus  Zabele  Spix, 
Av.  Bras.  t.  77. 
8.  T.  variegatus  (Gmel.)  Lath.  PI.  enl.  828. 
9.  T.  undulatus  Temm.  Pig.  &  Gall.  iii.  582.  —  Cryptura  sylvi- 
cola  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  21 6. 
10.  T.  strigulosus  Temm.  Pig.  &  Gall,  iii  594.  &  752. 
11.  T.  .Son  (Gmel.)  Lath.  PI.  enl.  829. 
12.  T.  obxoletus  Temm.  Pig.  &  Gall.  iii.  588.,  PI.  col.  1  — 
Cryptura  cserulescens  Vieill.,  Azara  No.  330. 
13.  T.  Tatuapa  Temm.  Pig.  &  Gall.  iii.  590.,  PI.  col.  415.,  Azara 
No.  329.,  Swains.  Zool.  111.  t.  19.  —  Pezus  Niambu  Spiz,  A  v.  Bras, 
t.  78.  a. 
14.  T.  parvirostris  Wagl.  Syst.  Av.  sp.  13. 
15.  T.  atro-capillus  (Tschudi),  Faun.  Peruv.  p.  47. 
16.  T.  Kleesi  (Tschudi),  Wiegm.  Arch.  1843.  1.  387. 
Xothura  Wagl.f 
Bill  very  small,  and  like  that  of  the  species  of  the  preceding  genus,  except  that  the  nostrils  are  placed 
about  one  third  of  the  length  from  the  base,  large  and  membranous.     Wings  short  and  rounded,  with 
*  Established  by  Latham  (Index  Ornithological  633.)  in  1790.     Illiger,  in  1  81 1,  proposed  in  its  place  Crypturus,  which,  in  1 8 1 6",  Vieillot 
changed  to  Cryptura  ;  and,  in  1825,  Spix  used  Pezus  for  the  same  type, 
t  Establishe.!  in  1827  by  Wagler  (Syst.  At:). 
