T62 on the CliASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 
having the whole aspect of a Crax or a Penelope. We 
again allude to these approximations of the cuckows to 
the Rasores, to show that the former are much nearer to 
the latter than is Musophaga, whose affinity with the 
ConiroHtres seems to us, at least, indisputable. 
(18.1.) The natural divisions of the Rasores, and 
their circular arrangements, have hitherto received but 
little attention, nor have we yet been able to analyse 
more than a few of their minor divisions; we shall, 
therefore, merely refer the systematic reader to the 
technical definitions of the genera, which we have 
arranged in what appear to be the natural famihes : 
these succeed each other in the following order : — 
1. The CracidfB, or alectors; 2. The Pavonida, contain- 
ing the peacocks and the fowls ; 3. The Tetraonida, or 
partridges ; 4. The Slruthionidee, or ostriches ; 5. The 
Columbidee, or pigeons. 
(184.) The large American gallinaceous birds, 
forming the family of Cracid®, are chiefiy distin- 
guished by all their toes being placed on the same 
plane or level, like those of the perching order* : their 
legs, also, are destitute of such spurs as we see upon 
the feet of the common cock ; and the tarsus, in 
proportion to the size of the bird, is short and slender : 
the hind toe is much developed ; we accordingly 
find that these birds frequent and perch upon trees, 
nearly as much as upon the ground. In their plain 
colours, they offer a singular contrast to the brilliant 
plumage of die Asiatic races, which occur in nearly 
the same parallels of latitude in the Old World. It 
is singular that so little pains have hitherto been taken 
to domesticate these American fowls ; since, by their so- 
ciability and gentleness, they evince every disposition to 
live under the dominion of man. The flesh, as we know 
from personal experiment, is particularly delicious. 
(185.) The genera need only be briefly glanced at. 
The first we place upon the list is Penelope (Mer.) (fig. 
173.)) known by the more familiar name of guans. In 
• VoL 1 . p, lEi. 
