VERTEBRATA. 
333 
Pig. 815.—Prairie-chicken (Cupidonia cupido). 
Western prairies. 
being united by a short web, and terminating in blunt 
claws. The legs are usually feathered to the heel, some¬ 
times (as in Grouse) 
to the toes. The 
feathers of the body 
are large and coarse. 
The males generally 
have gay plumage, 
and some appendage 
to the head. The 
nostrils are covered 
by a scale or valve. 
Their main food is 
grain. Such are the 
Grouse, Partridges, Turkeys, Pheasants, Poultry, and Cu¬ 
rasao ws. To these may be added, 
T. Columbm, or Pigeons and Doves, although they stand 
intermediate between the 
terrestrial and perching 
Birds, as the Flamingoes 
link the aquatic and terres¬ 
trial. They differ from the 
typical Rasores in having 
wings for prolonged flight, 
and slender legs, fitted rath¬ 
er for an arboreal life, with 
toes not united, and the 
hind toe on a level with 
the rest. 
C. Aerial Birds. —This 
highest and largest group 
includes all those Birds 
whose toes are fitted for grasping or perching, the hind 
toe being on a level with the rest. The knee is free from 
the body, and the leg is generally feathered to the heel. 
Fig. 316 .— Ring-dove (Columba palumbus). 
England. 
