486 



Till': FEATHKKEI) TKIKES. 



THE CAIUAWA.* 



The great solitary mountain-plains, surromuled by the forests whicli cxleiicl o\er so 

 large a proportion of Brazil, yield a dwclling-jjluce to this bird. It is also found, but 

 more rarely, in Pai'aguay. 



The neck of the Cariama is covered with long, loose, barbed feathers, wliicli it can 

 raise when excited or frightened. A liglit- crest, consisting of a few disunited feathers, 

 forms au ornamental tuft -on the front, and advances on the base of the bill, wliich it 

 overshadows. The .space round the eyes is naked, the nakedness, which is bluish, 

 reaching to the bill. The ujjper eye-lid is fringed with long dark lushes. The feet are 

 long and slender, and tlie toes very short. The tail is rounded and of moderate length. 

 Tlic general colour of the bird is an earthy lirown on the upper parts, while the lower 

 parts are whitisli. The length of tlie specimens described varies from thirty to 

 thirty-two inches. 



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niiAD or rAI.AMKbKA CltlSTATA.- GMLL. 



lOOT or rAl.AMliDKA ClUSTATA. — GMKl 



The cariama is an extremelj' shy bird. A tenant of vast solitudes, tlie silence of 

 which is broken by its sonorous voice, it is almost always on the watch, and verj' diflicult 

 of approach. Stalking slowly on the plain, it descries some intruder at a distance, and 

 in a moment decides that it will remain or flj'. A.s soon as it perceives that it is pursued, 

 it sets off with great rapidity ; the hunter follows on horseback, but it is not till after a 

 sharp and tedious cour.se, with many turns and windings, that the cariama, weaiied out, 

 either crouches on the ground, or aliglits on some bush or tree. In vain, till then, docs 

 the hunter try to throw his lasso or pull his trigger. 



Still these birds arc easily domesticated, and will live in peace with other occujiants of 

 the poultry-}ard. They will even walk about the village or handet wliere they liave 

 been brought up, and retui-n, like the poultry, after taking short trips in the fields. Their 

 flesh is said to be very good. 



mi-, si'ODMiii.i.s.f 



The bills (if till' liiiils lliu.s deiiominatfd arc \i'iy loiiu and slrong, \v\\ niucli lialli'Ucd, 

 and having the point very much dilated, and rounded into ilie form of a .spoon or spatula ; 

 the upper mandible is channelled and transversely furrowed at its base/ Their feel, are 

 long and strong: three toes are anlcrioi-ly united up to the .second jninl by uiembranes 

 or webs; the posterior toe touches the gi'ound. Tiic wings arc nicidcralc ami ample; 

 the first quill is nearly as long as the .second, which is the longest. 



These birds live in society in wooded nuiislies, generally not far (ruin \\w nioulli^dr 

 rivers, and arc rarely seen on the sca-shorc. Tlicir food con.'sists of small li.shes, spawn, 

 and small fluviatile testaceous mollusks, as well iis small reptiles and a(pi:itic insects. 



I'alamcdcix t'ri»tnt:i. liiml. 



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