Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/238

 Six Families are included in this Order, viz., Cracidæ, Megapodidæ, Phasianidæ, Tetraonidæ, Chionididæ, and Tinamidæ.

(Curassows.)

In these large fowls of South America, which somewhat resemble the Turkeys, we find an exception to one important character of the Gallinaceous Order, which indicates a connexion with the Passerine birds. The hind toe is articulated on the same plane as the others, touching the ground in its whole length when walking, and thus the foot is constructed on the type of that of the Perchers. In conformity with such a structure, these birds possess habits much more arboreal than the other Poultry-birds, spending a great deal of their time on the trees of the dense forests in which they reside, forming their nests among their branches, and feeding on their buds and fruit. The curved form of the claws, their compressed sides, and their acute points, afford additional indications that these birds are not habitually employed in walking and scratching the ground. The tarsi, too, are destitute of spurs. In other particulars, however, these birds adhere to the distinctive characters of the Order.

The Curassows are some of the most valuable additions that America has made to our domestic Poultry, though they are as yet but partially introduced into England. One of the objects of the formation of the Zoological Society of London, was the introduction and domestication of