The family of Birds to which our domestic fowls belong is a very large
one. It is known as the family of Gallinaceous Birds. The word is
derived from the Latin gallina, a hen, and gallus, a cock. The many
different Birds and Fowls found under this family are usually divided
into six groups, and these may be readily classified without their long
Latin names to designate them.
In the first we find the different kinds of Grouse, the Cock of the
Plains, the Heathcock, the Hazel Hen and others of the same nature, that
resemble our Hens and Roosters, and care for their chickens in the same
manner. Under the second group we find the Quail, the Colin, the
Partridge, etc., that are well known in this country and in Europe. The
Birds under the third group belong to South America, and are
representatives of the Partridge on that continent. The birds belonging
to the fourth group are the Chionides of Australia and New Zealand. In
size they are between our Partridge and Pigeon. They live near the
sea-beach, and feed on the sea-weed and dead Fishes that are thrown up
by the waves.
In the fifth group are found a queer family of birds with straight
slender bills and feet that are furnished with long, sharp claws. These
birds are also found in Australia and they have a peculiar habit of
laying each of their eggs in a separate hole, then covering each with a
large mound, scraped together by the Birds; and the eggs are then left
to be hatched by the sun. The Bush-turkeys of Australia and New Guinea
also belong to this group.
The sixth group comprises our Pheasants, Peacocks, Guinea Fowls,
Curassows and Turkeys. The handsomest Birds belonging to the family of
domestic Fowls—the Peacocks, Golden Pheasants, etc., are found in this
group.