CRACID^E — THE CURASSOWS. 



399 



with white, except the middle one. Feathers along the middle of the throat black ; 

 outer edge of primaries tinged with gray. Eyes brown. Bill and feet lead-colored. 

 Length, 23.50; wing, 8.50; tail, 11.00. 



Hab. Valley of the Rio Grande, and southward to Gruatemala. 



This form is distiuguishable from 0. vetula, as restricted, of which it is 

 the northern representative, by the j^aler and less fulvous colors, and lighter 

 — often nearly white — tijjs to the tail-feathers, besides other minor dif- 

 ferences in coloration. The two cannot be separated specifically, however, 

 since they undoubtedly grade into each other. 



Habits. This very remarkable bird, belonging as it does to a form pecu- 

 liar to this continent, is 

 the only species found 

 within the limits of the 

 United States, and only 

 within a quite restricted 

 area in the valley of the 

 Eio Grande. Numerous 

 species of this family 

 are found in the warmer 

 countries of America, 

 especially Mexico and 

 Central America, all or 

 nearly all of which ap- 

 pear to be capable of 

 domestication, and some of which, including the present species, have, in 

 repeated instances, been quite as completely domesticated as our common 

 Turkey. 



Birds of the family to which the Texan species belongs differ in a very 

 marked manner, in habits, from most Gallinacece, inasmuch as they not only 

 live almost exclusively in deep forests, but are also remarkable for habitually 

 frequenting trees, feeding upon their foliage, and building their nests within 

 their branches, more in the manner of the smaller birds. They are all said 

 to have loud and discordant voices, and are generally of a black or dark 

 plumage. 



Specimens of this bird were taken at Boquillo, in Xew Leon, in the 

 spring of 1853, by Lieutenant Couch, who speaks of them as gregarious and 

 as seeking their food wholly or in part on trees. According to Mr. Clark, 

 they do not occur higher up the Rio Grande than the vicinity of Ringgold 

 Barracks, inhabiting the deepest chaparrals, which they wexex quit. They 



the belly tinged with ochraceous or rusty ; tail, bronzed green ; the five lateral feathers tipped 

 with white or buff. Length, 21.00; wing, 7.70; tail, 9.00; tarsus, 2.50. Hah. Texas to 

 Honduras, on east side of Mexico. 



A near ally to 0. vetula is the 0. Icucogastra, Gould (S. k S. p. 539) from Pacific coast of 

 Central America. This differs in pure white of under parts. The size also is considerably less. 



Ortnlida maccalli. 



