PHASIANIN^. 
231 
large, with prominent internal longitudinal or reticulated 
rugse. Nostrils basal, operculate, small. Eyes rather 
small, or moderate. Legs generally strong ; tarsi of mo- 
derate length, or short, scutellate or feathered, in the 
former case sometimes having a spur or knob behind ; 
three anterior spreading toes, often also a hind toe, which 
is always small and elevated ; claws moderately arched, 
depressed, obtuse. Plumage full, the feathers with a 
large plumule ; wings generally concave, short, or mode- 
rate, tail various. 
Representatives of this order are found in all parts of 
the world. In Britain the species are not numerous, 
there being only eight. They feed on seeds, berries, hard 
fruits, buds, twigs, and herbaceous plants, occasionally 
insects and worms ; run with great celerity ; have a strong, 
rapid, and continued, though generally heavy flight ; nes- 
tle on the ground, and lay numerous eggs. The young, 
born with their eyes open, and their body covered with 
close stiffish down, .are able to run about presently after 
exclusion. They are led about by their mother, who 
manifests the greatest anxiety for their welfare, protects 
them from cold and wet under her wings, feigns lameness 
to draw intruders after her, while they remain concealed 
among the herbage, and points out to them the substances 
on which they are to feed. Many of these birds scrape up 
the dry leaves and earth with their feet in search of food ; 
but the habit is not general. 
FAMILY XXIX. PHASIANIN^. PHASIA- 
NINE BIRDS, OR PHEASANTS. 
Birds of large size, having the body full, the neck 
slender and rather long, the head small and oblong. 
