ECOLOGY OF THE HOATZIN BEEBE, 541 



cal of hoatzins that an account of them will apply to the species in 

 general. I made these photographs from a boat, standing on the 

 thwarts, while Mrs. Beebe guided it through the brush. 



We flush the female from her nest, and she flies to a branch some 

 8 feet higher, the male then appearing from a tree beyond (pi. 5, 

 fig. 2). We remain perfectly quiet, and the next photograph shows 

 ihe female hoatzin, tail on, looking about, while the male, who has 

 flown nearer, is watching us suspiciously (pi. 6, fig. 1). 



Plate 6, figure 2, shows the male on another perch, still more 

 alarmed, and a moment later he thrashes his way out of sight. Mean- 

 while the female has rediscovered us and crouches down (pi. 7, fig. 1), 

 hoping to avoid observation, but as we push closer to the nest, she 

 rises on her perch, spreads wings and tail to the widest (pi. 7, fig. 2), 

 her scarlet eyes flashing, and, uttering a last despairing hiss, launches 

 out for a few yards. At this moment, as may be seen in the same 

 picture, a second pair of birds fly up from a nest in the next clump 

 of undergrowth and raise their discordant notes in protest at our 

 intrusion. 



The assertion which I made last year that hoatzins use their 

 primary feathers as fingers, in the same way that the chicks and 

 partly grown young use their wing claws, has been received with 

 some doubt, and I am glad to offer a photograph (pi. 7, fig. 2) as 

 evidence. In the right wing of the hoatzin the thumb feathers are 

 plainly visible, with their edges fretted away, while the first six 

 primaries also show signs of severe wear, such as would be expected 

 from the rough usage to which they are put. 



Attention is called to the apparent immobility of the crest, which 

 is as fully erect in the crouching hoatzin ( pi. 7, fig. 1 ) as in the same 

 bird a minute or two later, alert and about to fly (pi. 7, fig. 2). 



Thus it was that we made the first photographs ever taken of these 

 most interesting birds. 



ODOR. 



In regard to the odor given off by the flesh of hoatzins and its 

 cause, there seem to be many conflicting statements. I quote some 

 opinions : 



I never found the smell of these birds so bad as I had been led to believe ; it 

 reminds one of a rather strong cow shed. It has been found on cutting out the 

 crop, as soon as the bird is dead, very little unpleasant odor remains. Loat (27). 



As is well known, the aroid shrub upon which the Canje pheasant feeds gives 

 its flesh a strong and disagreeable odor. Sclater (41). 



The popular name (Catingueira) is derived from a certain penetrating odor. 

 This disagreeable odor is transmitted and adheres with such efficacy that it is 

 an excellent protection, not only against the attacks of carnivorous animals, but 

 also against persecution by man. Goeldi (20). 



