158 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIBOS. 
both by the philosopher and the savage, in giving com- 
fort and rest to the human frame. As connected with 
the gentleness and inoffensive habits of this trihe, we 
find a pecuhar developement of the love for their 
offspring: and that the increase of the domesticated 
species should keep pace with the wants of man, we 
remark a fecundity much greater than in ordinary birds. 
The more scientific distinctions of the rasorial order, 
in comparison with that of the perchers, may be thus 
briefly stated : — Their external peculiarities arc very 
striking : the feet are particularly robust, and the hind 
toe, being placed on a greater elevation than the fore 
toes, almost debars the foot from any power of grasping; 
the hind toe, indeed, is either frequently minute, or 
altogether wanting : the bill is short and strong, having 
a pecuhar horny appearance ; it is destitute also of a 
notch : the wings are muscular ; but the quill feathers 
are short, unusually convex, and much rounded ; 
many of the typical groups have the tarsi armed with 
spurs, as in the domestic cock ; while such as show the 
typical characters in their full perfection, have the tail 
feathers of an extraordinary length, and magnificently 
coloured. Their internal organisation is equally pecu- 
liar : like ruminating quadrupeds, they have three 
stomachs ; the sternum is marked by two deep lolies or 
notches, the anterior part of the crest of which is 
truncated, so that the sharp end of the furca is joined 
to the sternum by a mere ligament ; this conformation, 
by weakening the pectoral muscles, at once accounts for 
their inferior powers of flight. 
(179.) The habits and economy of rasorial birds 
are well exemplified in our domestic races. They are 
social, live in societies, and are polygamous. They 
prefer escaping from danger hy running, and only take 
to flight when compelled by necessity. The females 
are generaUy the smallest, and always the least orna- 
mented : they are fond of rolling in dust, to free them- 
selves, as it is thought, from vermin : some nestle on 
the ground, and live only on plains; while others, of 
