CARIAMID.E. 161 



The Carau is more nocturnal than the true Rails, and, having a far 

 more powerful flight, takes to wing more readily ; in its gestures and 

 motions on the ground it resembles them, but differs strikingly from 

 all Ralline birds in the habit it possesses of flying when disturbed to 

 some open place, where it walks about conspicuously, watching the 

 intruder. 



Fam. XLV. CARIAMID^, OR CAKIAMAS. 



The Cariamas are another purely Neotropical family of which but 

 two species are known. These peculiar birds, remarkable for their long 

 legs and harsh voices, have been regarded by some authors as allied 

 to the Cranes, and by others as akin to the Secretary-Vulture (Serpen- 

 tarius), to which they have certainly considerable superficial resem- 

 blance. Dr. Burmeister, who has carefully investigated the osteology 

 and anatomy of Cariama cristata, has come to the conclusion that the 

 true place of this somewhat isolated form is near the Storks. But 

 Huxley (P. Z. S. 1867, p. 457) has placed it along with the Cranes, 

 though somewhat doubtful whether it should not rather form an Order 

 apart ; and we prefer to follow his decision. 



383. CARIAMA CRISTATA (Linn.). 

 (CRESTED CARIAMA.) 



La Saria, Azara, Apunt. Hi. p. 101 (Paraguay). Dicholophus cristatus, Burm. 

 Syst. Ueb. Vog. Brasil. iii. p. 401 ; id. Abh. nat. Ges. Halle, i. p. 11 (1854). 

 Cariama cristata, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 141. 



Description. Plumage yellowish grey, with numerous narrow darker and 

 lighter cross bands ; lower belly not banded ; wings and tail blackish brown, 

 with broad white cross bands; breast with pale shaft- stripes : front crested; 

 bill and feet reddish : whole length 32-0 inches, wing 14-0, tail 14-0. Female 

 similar, but more yellowish. 



Hab. Campos of S.E. Brazil and Paraguay. 



The Crested Cariama is a native of the Campos of the interior of 

 Brazil, where it is well known as the " Seriema." Hence it extends 

 into the open districts of Paraguay, and, it is said, into the adjoining 

 parts of the Argentine Republic, though we are not able at present to 

 give any exact authority for this statement. 



The Cariama lives on the ground among the high grasses of the 

 Campos, where the traveller frequently hears its loud screaming cry as 

 he rides along the tracks. It feeds principally upon insects and cater- 



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