THE SICKLE-WINGED GUANS. 255 
female defends her young with great spirit; for one day, while 
traversing the forest, a female of this species attempted to stop 
me, passing so close that I could almost have caught her in my 
hand; then with loud cries, having attacked my dog, almost strik- 
ing him with her wings, she took up a position on a neigh- 
bouring tree. It was not till I had shot her that I perceived 
that she had been defending her young, for on searching about 
I soon discovered her empty nest, and next day found one of 
her chicks in the same neighbourhood. 
“During moonlight nights one often hears their strange 
cries. At Cocoché they are hunted on such nights, for at 
other times they are very wild, and their flesh is much 
esteemed. ‘They feed on the ground, and, when the fruits 
of the ‘“‘Nectardes” are ripe, feed principally on them. 
“One generally finds these birds singly or in pairs, and I have 
only once met with a flock of a dozen birds. The inhabitants 
usually call this bird Pava negra, a name applied to Pipile at 
Moyobamba, where the Aburri receives the name ‘ Uante.’ 
When only winged, these birds run so quickly that they are 
frequently lost to the sportsman.” 
Nest.—Placed on the top of a low tree, and principally com- 
posed of sticks and leaves. 
Eggs.— Usually two in number. Broad ovals; shell pure 
white, grained. Measurements, 2°65 by 2 inches. 
THE SICKLE-WINGED GUANS. GENUS CHAM4:PETES. 
Chamepetes, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1227. 
Type, C. goudoti (Less.). 
Sexes szmz/ar in plumage. 
The width of the upper mandible greater than the height. 
The fore-part of the neck, as well as the chin and throat, eztirely 
feathered. Nowattle. A naked space round the eye. 
