NATURAL HISTORY. 
37 
GALLERY.] 
buds, fruits, and grain. The Sand Grouse ( Pteroclince , Case 105) have 
the bill short, convex, with the culmen curved to the tip; their wings verg* 
long and pointed; their legs short, with the front of the tarsi plumed, 
and the toes three, with the hind one, in most, rudimental. They in¬ 
habit the deserts of Africa and Asia, but two or three are found in 
Europe; the food consists of grains, &c. 
The family of Sheath-Bills (Chionidje, Case 106) are like the 
Grouse, but they have the nostrils surrounded by a kind of sheath. The 
Attagis has the habits of a grouse; it lives on the high mountains of 
South America. The Thinocori , on the contrary, so much resemble a 
snipe in their flight and manners, that the American sportsmen call 
them short-billed snipes; they have the bill and wings of Glareola , and 
the sternum of plovers and sandpipers ; they inhabit the plains or dry 
pasture land of South America, where they feed on herbage. The 
Sheath-Bill ( Chionis ) is often found far out at sea, but they chiefly in¬ 
habit the tidal rocks, feeding on sea-weed and shells, which has caused 
some naturalists to place them with the water birds ; they are confined 
to the southern parts of the Southern Ocean. 
The family of Tinamous (Tinamul®, Case 106) are peculiar to the 
warmer parts of the world. They are intermediate in form between the 
partridges and the bustards, having the long neck and legs and the 
small feet of the latter, and the nostrils covered with a naked scale 
like the pheasants. The beak varies in length; their wings are short, 
and the tail and hind toe are rudimentary. The Tinamous ( Tinamince , 
Case 106) have the bill moderate, slender, and rather rounded at the 
tip, with the nostrils pierced in the middle of each side ; their wings are 
short, and the tail is scarcely visible; their legs short and furnished 
with three toes, though in some the hind toe partakes of the form of a 
claw ; they are peculiar to South America, where these birds are seen 
either among the low brushwood or tali grass. The food consists of 
fruits and insects. 
The family of Megapodius (Megapodiidje, Case 106) are peculiar to 
the Australian islands; their head is rather naked, their bill vaulted, and 
the nostrils large, rounded, and placed in a wide nasal groove; their 
legs are short, strong, spurless, and their feet are furnished with long 
blunt claws. Their eggs are very large. The Megapodius lays them 
on the sea shore ; the Alectura (like snakes) deposits them in decaying 
leaves, &c., which they collect for the purpose into heaps, several laying 
in the same heap, thus taking advantage of the warmth produced by 
their fermentation. They are very good for eating. 
The Wading Birds (GRALLiE, Cases 107—134) have long slender 
legs, and the lower part of the thighs naked. Some of these birds have 
short wings which assist them in running. 
The family of Ostriches ( STRUTHiONiDiE, Cases 107—109), which 
inhabit plains, are peculiar for the shortness of their wings, which are in¬ 
adequate to perform the function of flight; their bills are of various 
forms; their legs generally lengthened and strong. The Ostriches 
( Struthionince , Cases 107-109) have short depressed bills ; their wings 
rudimentary, and the legs lengthened and furnished with two or three 
toes. They are found in flocks, and subsist on grains, fruits, and herb¬ 
age. Some of them swim with facility. The Dodos ( Didince , Case 
108.) These birds have become entirely extinct, and are only known 
