Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/237

 on the habits and economy of these birds; for the bones thus diminished are those to which are attached the muscles which agitate the wings, which being necessarily small and weak, flight is feeble and laborious. Hence the Poultry reside chiefly on the ground, or on the low branches of trees; rarely mounting on the wing except to carry themselves beyond the reach of sudden danger, or to elevate themselves to their nocturnal roosting-perch. With the exception of a few species, they perform the business of incubation on the ground, laying their numerous eggs in a hollow slightly scratched in the earth, or at most on a few carelessly accumulated sticks, or straws.

Very many of the species are richly coloured; and some are adorned with metallic reflections of the most refulgent splendour. In general, the male is larger and more gaily coloured than the female; and he is frequently distinguished by some peculiar development of the tail or its coverts. The tail in this Order has more than the ordinary number of feathers, having from fourteen to eighteen. The species, though inoffensive towards other animals, are irritable and pugnacious between themselves; the males of several species fighting with a determined pertinacity that frequently yields only to death.

The Poultry are chiefly found in the continents; the islands, unless very large, or in the vicinity of a continent, being comparatively destitute of them. The south and east of Asia, and the deep forests and glades of America, produce the greatest number of species, as well as the most remarkable for size and beauty.