CHAPTER XVII. 



THE CRESTED SCREAMER. 



(Chauna chavarria.) 



AMONGST the feathered notables from all parts of 

 the world found gathered at the Zoological Gardens 

 in London is the Crested Screamer from South 

 America. It is in many respects a very singular 

 species, and its large size, great strength, and 

 majestic demeanour, with the surprising docility and 

 intelligence it displays when domesticated, give it a 

 character amongst birds somewhat like that of the 

 elephant amongst mammals. Briefly and roughly 

 to describe it : in size it is like a swan, in shape 

 like a lapwing, only with a powerful curved gallina- 

 ceous beak. It is adorned with a long pointed 

 crest and a black neck-ring, the plumage being 

 otherwise of a pale slaty blue, while the legs and 

 the naked skin about the eyes are bright red. On 

 each wing, in both sexes, there are two formidable 

 spurs ; the first one, on the second joint, is an inch 

 and a half long, nearly straight, triangular, and 

 exceedingly sharp ; the second spur, on the last 

 joint, being smaller, broad, and curved, and roughly 

 resembling in shape and size a lion's claw. There 

 is another striking peculiarity. The skin is emphy- 



