DIVISIONS OF BIRDS. 297 
often covered with feathers as far as the ankle-joint. There are 
four toes (fig. 160, A), three in front, and a short hind-toe placed 
on a higher level than the others. All the toes, in the typical 
members of the order, are provided with strong blunt claws, 
suitable for scratching. The food of the Masores consists 
chiefly of hard grains and seeds, and in accordance with this, 
they have a large crop, and an extremely strong and muscular 
gizzard. They generally lay their eggs upon the ground, and 
they are mostly polygamous, each,male having several mates. 
The Doves, however, pair for life. The males take no part in 
building the nest or in hatching the eggs; and the young are 
generally precocious, being able to run about and provide them- 
selves with food from the moment they quit the egg. The 
wings are usually weak, and the flight feeble, and accompanied 
with a whirring sound ; but many of the Pigeons are powerful 
fliers. 
The order Rasores is divided into two very well marked sec- 
tions or sub-orders, called respectively the Gaddinacec and 
Columbacei. In the Gallinacez are all the typical forms of the 
order, and the characters of this section are therefore the same 
as those of the order itself. They are distinguished from the 
Columbacet mainly by being less fully adapted for flight, their 
bodies being much heavier, comparatively speaking, their legs 
and feet stronger, and their wings shorter. They are also poly- 
gamous, and the males usually possess “spurs,” and are more 
brilliantly coloured than the females. 
The leading families of the Gallinaceous birds are: 1. The 
Tetraonide or Grouse family, comprising the true Grouse and 
Black Game (7Ze¢rao), the Ptarmigans (Lagopus), the Ruffed 
Grouse (Gonasa), &c. 2. The Perdicide or Partridge family, 
comprising the Partridges (Perdix), Quails (Coturnix), Vir- 
ginian and Mountain Quails (Orvtyx), Crested Quails (Lophor- 
tyx),&c. 3. The Phasianide, or Pheasant family, comprising 
the various Pheasants (Phaszanus), the Domestic and Jungle 
fowls (Gallus), the Turkeys (J/eleagris), the Guinea-fowls 
(Numida), and the Pea-fowl (Pavo). 4. The Megapodide, or 
Mound-builders, comprising only some singular Australian and 
Indian birds, which build enormous mounds, in which they 
deposit their eggs. 5. The Cracide@, or Curassow family, com- 
prising the large South and Central American birds known as 
Curassows and Guans. 
