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Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonqualls, and Sandgrouse of the World By Steve Madge and Phil McGowan with Guy M. Kirwan. 2002. Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 (www.birds.princeton.edu). 488 p., illus. $49.50. ISBN 0-- 691-08908-6.
The pheasants and relatives have been the subject of a large number of extensive treatises, including works by Beebe (1918-- 1922) and Delacour (1977), which are considered classic treatments of some of the species included in Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Although these "gamebirds" contain a number of the best-known and studied birds in the world, most notably the domestic chicken, the ring-necked or common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), andthe wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), many species are not familiar even to ornithologists. In addition, the authors of this book have included a treatment of a number of groups that are often informally grouped with the pheasants because they are morphologically similar, although not closely related, such as the buttonquails (Order Gruiformes, Family Turnicidae), or "gamebirds" such as the sandgrouse...