V. Some Account of the Tantalus Ephouskyca, a rare American 
Bird. By Benjamin Smith Barton, M.D. F.M.L.S. 
Read June 6, 1815. — 
T'uz annexed figure (Tab. I.) of a rare American bird, together 
with those very few facts and circumstances which I have been 
able to collect concerning the bird, may, I flatter myself, prove 
acceptable to the Linnean Society. It may be proper to observe, 
that although the. ing, by à Bar 
has been in my pc 
been made frogits: 4: >) pisos : 
We know little or nothing of this bird, but what has been com- 
municated to us by the ingenious gentleman just mentioned. I 
here subjoin all that he has said concerning it. 
* There is inhabiting the low shores and swamps of this river*, 
and the lakes of Florida, as well as Georgia, a very curious bird, 
called by an Indian name, (Ephousk yca 1.) which signifies in our 
language the Crying Bird. I cannot determine what genus of Eu- 
ropean birds to join it with. It isabout the size of a large domes- 
tic hen. All the body, above and beneath, is of a dark lead co- 
lour, every feather edged or tipped with white, which makes the 
bird appear speckled on a near view: the eye is large, and placed 
high on the head, which is very prominent: the billor beak is 
APrirs * 
AT DAI tialil, 
graving has ever 
* The St. Juan, in East Florida. 
t “ Tantalus pictus?" In another part of his work (p. 293.) Mr. Bartram mentions 
our bird by the same name, Š 
five 
