R. I. P.—Brazilian Cariamas



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musical and can be heard for a great distance. If you strike a plate or

a saucer with a fork or spoon it generally has the effect of starting the

chorus. They are protected by law in this country, on account of their

snake-killing propensities. To the sportsman they often become a

nuisance, as they are very destructive to young birds. Strange to say,

although essentially ground birds, they often perch at night, but not

always. They have a great fancy for bits of crockery or anything

bright and glittering. Unless they are tame, it is not well to get within

striking distance, as, like the Bittern or the Heron, they are remarkably

quick, and I have heard go for the eye.”


Headers of this note will at once be struck by the likeness the

Cariamas show in habit on the one hand to the Secretary Birds of Africa

and on the other to the Screamers of South America. The record of

the Cariamas calling in chorus and being stimulated to do so by the

striking of a plate with a metal implement agrees very closely with what

was said in the last number of the Avicultural Magazine of the

Screamers in the Zoological Gardens being “set off” by the striking

of the clock. The superficial resemblance between Cariamas and

Secretary Birds has been frequently noticed and discussed, but it is

generally considered, I believe, to be purely adaptive and due to

similarity of feeding habits, the Cariamas being aberrant members of

the Crane-group (Gruiformes), whereas the Secretary Birds are aberrant

Accipitres. It is pleasant to learn of the protection extended to these

fine and interesting birds on account of their snake-killing propensities.

The Secretary Birds arc protected in Africa for the same reason.


The Zoological Society now has representatives of the two known

species of Cariama, namely, the one referred to above and the smaller,

darker form, Burmeister’s Cariama (C/runga burmeisteri), which comes

from the Argentine. It may be recalled that a pair of Brazilian

Cariamas bred and reared young in the Gardens in 1911 and

1912. Let us hope that this new pair will follow their example. But

the hen bird unfortunately broke one of her legs on the voyage. The

enterprising surgeon on board, however, instead of having the bird

slaughtered, set the shattered limb skilfully in splints, and up to the

present time the operation looks like proving a success.



R, I. P.



