234 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



crax, and the full-feathered recurved crest, swollen culmen, and fleshy wattles pendant 

 from the base of the mandible of the species of Crax. The plumage is mostly black 

 and white ; the females, when they do differ from the males, which is but seldom, being 

 generally rufous on the underparts, with the back and wings mottled with light brown 

 or white. The curassows inhabit Central and South America, only one species, Crax 

 globicera, being found north of Panama, ranging into western Mexico. Nothocrax 

 urumutum is said to have one habit which causes it to differ from all other members 



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FIG. 111. Crax alector, crested curassow. 



of the sub-family, and one which makes the bird extremely difficult to capture, and 

 this is, its custom of living in burrows or holes in the ground. The natives state that 

 it remains in its place of concealment during the day, coming out at night and ascend- 

 ing to the top branches of the loftiest trees in search of food. The Indians take up 

 their positions in the forest where they first hear the birds, remaining all night, and 

 shoot them just before sunrise as they descend to return to their underground abodes. 

 All the curassows have very gentle and confiding dispositions, are easily tamed, breed 

 well in captivity, and in their native countries are frequently kept by the inhabitants 



