NATURAL HISTORY. 
06 
[east, zool. 
the woods of South America; their food consists of buds, fruits, and 
roots. 
The family of Pheasants ( Ph asianiile, Cases 91 — 103) have the hind 
toe placed higher on the tarsus than the front ones, so that only the tip 
touches the ground. Their bill is arched, and the nostril is covered 
with a vaulted, smooth, naked, homy scale. The tarsus is naked, and 
that of the male is generally furnished with one or more spurs. These 
birds are much sought after as food, and often domesticated for the 
purpose; they are, at the same time, often the most beautiful of the 
class. The male is generally the largest and finest coloured, and they 
are most usually ornamented with wattles, combs, or crests. The wings 
are generally short and rounded. The Peacocks ( Pavojiince , Cases 
91—93) have the tail lengthened and composed of numerous feathers, 
which spread into a complete circle at the will of the birds. They are 
inhabitants of Asia, where they inhabit the woods and jungles ; feeding 
on grains, buds, &c. The Pheasants ( Phasianince , Cases 94 and 95) 
have the tail lengthened, with tail feathers narrowed and pointed; 
their cheeks more or less naked. These are found wild in various parts 
of Asia, but some of them have become naturalized in Europe ; they 
feed on grain, seeds, roots, and insects. The Fowls ( Gallince , 
Cases 96—99) have the tail more or less arched, and the sides com¬ 
pressed ; the sides of their head naked, with wattles from each cheek ; 
their tarsi lengthened and spurred. They inhabit the jungles and woods 
of the continent and isles of India; their food consists of grains and 
fruits, &c. The Turkeys ( Meleagrince , Cases 99 and 100) have the 
head and neck naked; their tail short and rounded. Turkeys are found 
in the forests of North and Central America, where they feed on grain 
and other vegetable substances. The Impevan Pheasants ( Lophopho - 
rince , Case 100) have the upper mandible overlapping the lower; their 
cheeks are clothed with small feathers; their tarsi short and armed with 
spurs. These birds inhabit the northern parts of India, and feed on bulbous 
roots, which they dig up by means of their bill. The Partridges (Per- 
dicince, Cases 101—103) have the bill moderate, arched and hooked at 
the tip; their wings short and concave; their tarsi moderate, naked, in 
some species armed with spurs. Found both in the Old and New 
World, where they inhabit plains; they feed on the ground on grain 
and other vegetable substances. The Tumix ( Tuniicince, Case 101) 
have short compressed bills, with the lower mandible angulated near the 
tip; their wings rather short, and their legs moderate, with the toes 
three and free at the base. These birds are found in the sandy regions, 
where they feed on grains. 
The family of the Grouse (Tetraonhle, Cases 104 and 105) have 
many characteristics in common with the former, but their legs are ge¬ 
nerally more or less covered with feathers, as are also the horny vaulted 
scales over the nostrils, and the wings are generally long and acute. 
The Grouse are peculiar to the northern parts of Europe and America. 
The Grouse ( Tetraoninee , Cases 104 and 105) have a naked space 
above each eye, and their legs and toes more or less clothed with fea¬ 
thers ; then* bill short and arched and gibbose at the tip ; their nostrils 
basal and concealed. They are natives of the forests of the high northern 
latitudes and of the highest mountains of Central Europe; they feed on 
