GRALLATORIiE. 373 



of the male forms various curves ; their cseca are short, and 

 even the true Herons have but one. 



We subdivide it into three tribes, the Cranes, the true 

 Herons, and the Swans. The first tribe forms but one great 

 genus. 



Grus, Lin. 



The Cranes have a straight beak, but slightly cleft; the membra- 

 nous fossae of the nostrils, which are large and concave, occupy- 

 nearly one half of its length. Their legs are scutellated, and the 

 toes moderate; the external ones but slightly palmate, and the thumb 

 hardly reaching to the ground. A more or less considerable por- 

 tion of the head and neck is destitute of feathers in nearly all of 

 them. Their habits are more terrestrial, and their food more vege- 

 table than those of the following genera: consequently they have a 

 muscular gizzard, and long cseca. Their lower larynx has but one 

 muscle on each side. At the head of this genus we place with Pal- 

 las,(l) 



PsopHiA, Lin. J 



Or the Trumpeters, which have a shorter beak than the other 

 species; the head and neck are merely invested with down, and the 

 circumference of the eye is naked. They live in the woods, and feed 

 on grain and fruit. 



The species best known is from South America, and is called 

 the Trumpeter, (Psojjhiacrepitans,'L.,)'En\. 169, from its faculty 

 of producing a low, deep sound, which at first seems to proceed 

 from the anus. It is the size of a capon; the plumage is black- 

 ish, which, on the breast, reflects a brilliant violet hue; the 

 mantle is ash coloured, shaded above with fawn colour. It is 

 a very grateful bird, and as susceptible of attachment to man as 

 a dog. It is even said to be so docile as to take the command 

 of the poultry-yard. It flies badly, but runs fast, and builds on 

 the ground at the foot of a tree. Its flesh is eaten. (2) 



(1) Spicil. Zool., IV, 3. 



(2) At Cayenne, according- to Barrere, it is called Jgami; Caracara in the An- 

 tilles, according to Dutertre. As the name of Trumpeter is also given in Africa 

 to a Calao, Fermin (Descrip. de Surin.) absurdly transfers to the Agami the cha- 

 racter of both beaks at once. The Agami was for a long while confounded with 

 the Macucagua of Marcgrave, which is a Tinamou. Psophia is a name coined by 

 Barrere from 'i'c^eo, to make a noise. 



Add, Psophia viridif, Spix, 83, and Ps. leucoptera. Id. 84. 



