CRACID.E. 851 



FAMILY I. 



Cracid.e. 21ie Curassous. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill moderate, of various forms, with the culmen more or less 

 arched to the tip ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and exposed; the winces short 

 and much rounded ; the tail lengthened and very broad ; the tarsi length- 

 ened and robust, with the toes lengthened and more or less slender, the 

 hind toe long, and jjlaced on the same plane with the others. 



The first family of tlie Gallinas includes a small 

 number of species peculiar to Soutli America^ and 

 known under tlie names of Guans and Curassows. 

 These birds reside in the luxuriant forests of tropical 

 America ; they live chiefly on the ground, where 

 they pick up the seeds and insects which constitute 

 a great portion of their food. Their powers of flight 

 are rather limited, but they rise freely into the trees, 

 upon the branches of which they often roost and 

 breed. 



