2208 



THE GAME BIRDS AND RAILS 



coming down and returning with her. The appearance of the bird, when walking 

 on the beach, is very handsome. They run quickly, but when shot at, or suddenly 

 disturbed, take wing with a heavy, noisy flight, to some neighboring tree, where 

 they settle on a low branch, and they probably rest at night in a similar situation. 

 Many birds lay in the same hole, for a dozen eggs are often found together, and 



CELEBEAN MAI.EO. 

 (One-fifth natural size.) 



these are so large that it is not possible for the body of the bird to contain more 

 than one fully-developed egg at the same time. In all the female birds which I 

 shot, none of the eggs besides the large one exceeded the size of peas, and there were 

 only eight or nine of these which is probably the extreme number a bird can lay in 

 one season. ' ' 



THE CURASSOWS AND GUANS 

 Family CRA CID^E 



The second family of the game birds with the first toe on the same level as the 

 others contains a number of large Central- and South- American birds, some of 



