Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/247

 period, and enveloped in the mists of twelve centuries before the Christian era.

The beak in the Phasianidæ is arched, and the nostril is covered with a vaulted, smooth, naked, horny scale. The wings are short, rounded, and hollow beneath; incapable of rapid or long-sustained flight. The feet are large and powerful; the tarsus naked, covered in front with large scales or plates, and furnished with one or more curved and pointed spurs; the hind toe is placed higher up on the tarsus than the three front ones, so that in walking, its tip alone touches the surface; the claws are slightly curved, and obtuse at the point. The tail consists of eighteen feathers, which in all are well developed either in breadth or length, and in some extraordinarily; in some cases those of each side are set in different planes, so that the tail folds upon itself perpendicularly, the undersides of the right feathers meeting those of the left. In other or the same genera, the tail-coverts are greatly lengthened. The males generally are of superior size and magnificence to the females; and many shine in the most rich, though not usually showy hues, and reflect the gorgeous refulgence of precious stones, or polished metal. In most cases some part of the skin of the face is naked and brightly coloured, and many are ornamented with wattles, combs, or feathery crests, most conspicuous in the male sex.

The torrid regions of Southern and Eastern Asia yield the greatest number of species, and those the most gorgeous; but one genus, that of the Guinea-fowl, is peculiar to Africa, and one, that of the Turkeys, to America.