166 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 
(Tem.). It is strikingly distinguished from the last, hy 
the peculiar form of its tail, and by having several 
spurs to the feet. Destitute of the vivid and shining 
colours of the true peacocks, this bird is perhaps equally 
beautiful, being covered almost entirely with dark rings 
or eyelike spots upon a cinnamon coloured ground. Of 
the genus Argus Tem., little is known beyond its being 
a very shy and delicately constructed bird. In that of 
Gallus is comprised the different species and varieties 
of our domestic fowl ; since it is now generally 
admitted that these have originated from races perfectly 
distinct. M. Temminck, who has investigated this 
subject with great ability, conceives that our common 
poultry have descended from the Gallus gigantmis and 
the Gallus Bankiva : the first a very large species, 
inhabiting Sumatra; the other much smaller and 
common in Java. The genus Lophophorus, likewise 
Indian, comprehends the famous Impeyau pheasant of 
Latham, whose plumage can only be compared to the 
most refulgent hues of variously coloured polished 
metals. IVe are next led to the beautiful group of 
pheasants ; one of which, — the common species of our 
preserves, — is well known : like all its congeners, its 
native country is towards Asia ; and, however beautiful, 
it can scarcely be compared with several others, natives 
of China, Japan, and the elevated mountains of Thibet. 
Africa furnishes us with only one genus in the Guinea- 
fowl {Numida L.), flocks of which occur in the swamps 
of Western Africa, and represent, in those pestilential 
regions, the turkey of the New World. 
(188.) The Tetbaonid^ form the third family, com- 
posed of the partridges, grouse, and quails ; all of which 
birds agree in the extreme shortness of their tails, and 
of their hind tw : they -are also remarkable for a total 
want of that brilliancy of plumage which so eminently 
characterises the last family. 'Phe genus Cryptonyx has 
been thought to connect the two, — a supposition by no 
means improbable, yet requiring analogical proof. It is 
a small group of Oriental birds, highly beautiful from 
