142 Zoological Society. 



age principally upon Indian corn, but had a little chopped boiled 

 meat occasionally. The weather being very mild, it was placed in 

 a turfed aviary, used generally for pheasants, some water-cresses and 

 other aquatic plants being procured; but it was soon evident that 

 we had not discovered a proper substitute for its natural food. Think- 

 ing one day that it manifested a desire to get at some roses which 

 were trained upon the aviary, I gave it one of the flowers, which it 

 ate eagerly. It was then thought, that, as it was so domesticated and 

 familiar, the feathers of one wing should be cut, and the bird turned 

 loose into the garden and watched, to see what plants it would pre- 

 fer. The rose-trees were the favourite plants, the flowers, j^oung 

 shoots and leaves being eagerly eaten. Since this time it has al- 

 ways been turned out every morning in mild weather to roam about 

 the garden, and it is very fond of creeping up close to the gardeners, 

 and watching them at work, although it does not appear to be from 

 any desire to obtain worms or insects. It seldom wanders very far 

 from its aviary, and in the afternoon is always found waiting to be 

 let in. In winter it is allowed its liberty in the parrot aviary, which 

 is heated by one of the Arnott stoves, and close to which it may 

 generally be found. Even in moderately sharp weather, if it be dry, 

 we find it better to let it go out for a short time ; but then, instead 

 of creeping leisurely about, it bustles off^ to its favourite plants, and 

 very soon returns ; but it will not bear confinement in a cage. At 

 the present time lettuce is its principal food, but it has also Indian 

 corn, hemp-seed, sopped bread, and a little boiled sheep's head. 

 Small stones seem also necessary, and it is very fond of swallowing 

 small pieces of the coal used in the stove, which is anthracite. 

 Owing to the difl[iculty and expense of procuring a sufficient quan- 

 tity of lettuce during the frost of last winter and that of the year 

 before, the poor bird became very thin and weak, but quickly rallied 

 upon again getting this food. In the summer, when on the lawns, 

 it will eat grass, which it chips off" with its beak in a very singular 

 manner. I have tried it several times with a frog, but it has always 

 been refused. When we first had it the horn upon the head was 

 about four inches long ; but as it used to stand so close to the stove, it 

 became burnt down to about an inch, and is now grown again con- 

 siderably. 



" The spurs upon the elbows of the wings are nearly two inches 

 long, and of amazing strength and hardness ; they are truly formi- 

 dable weapons. We have several varieties of dogs, which are kept in 

 single kennels, in diflferent parts of the garden, but they always re- 

 treat upon the approach of the Screamer ; and whilst the bird con- 

 tinues close, nothing will induce them to come out, at least those 

 that have once felt the spur. I have several times seen it standing 

 close to a door of a kennel, with its head erect and looking very 

 proud, making a sound which one could only look upon as a chal- 

 lenge to the dog to come forth. As the mode of attack is so sly and 

 unexpected, none are at first prepared for it. Throwing its neck and 

 head backwards and forwards, and uttering at the same time a low 

 note, it advances sideways up to the dog, and when close enough 

 turns half-way round, and quietly raising its wing, delivers such a 



