80 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Jacanas. 



(cldom to be leen ; and iinlen by means of a dot; 

 acciistomrtl to »iich work, it M almoitt impractible 

 to force it to lake wing; it iieeras to eluile pursuit an 

 if by auMnc.ami is here and there, threadin:: it* way 

 through the lonp puii, before it* pursuer can imasine 

 it has even left the ipot from which its call had tii-st 

 resounded. Its swiftneM and dexterity are indeed 

 almost incredible. The corn-crake breeds on the 

 Ktound. makini; a nest of dried prass in some de- 

 prctaion, the female laying from eight to twelve 

 egg*; they are of a yellowish white, covered with 

 dull ru»t-coloure<l spots, and in size nearly equal to 

 thoM of a partridge. Tlie youne, when first ex- 

 cluded, are covered with a blackish liairy down, and 

 follow the parents ; and in six weeks are able to fly. 

 Wonnt, insects, vegetables, and seeds constitute the 

 food of this bird ; it is very fond of grasshoppers. 

 lUfOuthward migration takes place in October, when 

 it panes over to the Continent, and continues its 

 irradual progress. The flesh of the corn-crake is in 

 high esteem as a delicacy. The description is ns 

 follows:— A larpe ash-coloured eyebrow, prolonged 

 upon the sides of the head ; all the feathers of the 

 upper parts blackish brown in the middle, bordered 

 laterally with ash-colour, and terminated with red- 

 dish; the long feathers which extend on the quills 

 entirely bordered by a large band of olive-reddish ; 

 coverts of the wings of a rusty red ; quills reddish 

 externally ; throat, belly, and abdomen white ; breast 

 olive-a-sh ; sides reddish, striped with white ; upper 

 mandible brown, lower whitish : iris reddish brown ; 

 eyebrows flesh-colour ; feet flesh-colour or reddish 

 brown. Length nine inches and a half. 



Family PALAMEDEID^ (.JACANAS, 

 SCREAMERS, &c.). 



This family, established, we believe, by the Prince 

 of Canino, comprehends the .lacanas. so remarkable 

 for their long legs, toes, and spine-like claws, and 

 the Screamers or Cariamas of South America ; all 

 birds inhabiting morasses and swampy grounds, 

 which they traverse in quest of food. 



1882. — The African Jacana 



(Parra Afrieana). In the genus Parra the bill is 

 moderate and compressed, and of a straight and 

 slender figure ; the legs and toes are long and 

 straight, or, slightly recurved, of enormous length ; 

 wings armed with a spur. This genus is spread over 

 South America. India and its islands, Australia and 

 Africa, China, &c. In contour and habits the spe- 

 cies are analogous to our moorhen, frequenting lakes, 

 sheets of water, ponds, and morasses, and where 

 undisturbed are far from being shy. "The number 

 of these birds (says Mr. Swainson) on the lakes of 

 Brazil, the elegance of their movements, and their 

 fearlessness of man, excite an interest in the traveller 

 who journeys through regions ornamented alone by 

 nature. They are very light birds, and their long 

 toes spreading over a wide surface enable them to 

 walk over the floating leaves of aquatic plants with 

 ns much facility as if they were on land. In such 

 Mtuations their appearance is really delusive, for 

 their pressure being sufficient to sink the surround- 

 ing leaf just below the surface, the birds actually 

 appear to walk upon the water." 



The African .Jacana is a n.ative of Abyssinia, 

 Mozambique, the Western Coast, and South Africa: 

 it is of a deep cinnamon colour above ; the crown of 

 the head is naked ; the throat is white : the breast 

 fulvous ; the neck and quills black. The spur on 

 the wing is a mere rudiment. 



1883. — The Common Jacana 



. Parra Jacana). This species is spread over the 

 hotter regions of South America. Brazil, Guiana, &c. 

 Its general colour is black, with the back and wing- 

 coverts rufous; the first quill-feathers are green; 

 '.he spurs on the wing are large and sharp ; at the 

 base of the beak are singular appendages of leathery 

 bkin. 



The Chinese Jacana, Parra sinensis, is a native of 

 India, is characterized by a long and graceful tail, 

 and the quill-feathers are terminated with slender 

 appendages like little narrow plumes proceeding 

 from the tip of each shaft. This is a most elegant 

 oird, and is not uncommon in museums. It has 

 been received from the Himalayan range. 



ms4. — The Horned Screamer 



(Palameaai camuta'). Kamichi in Guiana ; Anhima 

 in Brazil ; Camouche of the people of Cayenne. 



In the genus Palamedea the bill is shorter than 

 the head, convex, slightly vaulted, bent at the point, 

 . and covered at the base with small bristles; nostrils 

 oval, open; wings spurred. Fig. 188.5 represents 

 the Head of the horned screamer, or kamichi. It 

 is amidst the vast swamps and savannahs of Cayenne, 

 Guiana, and Surinam, teeming with animated beings, 

 that the homed screamer is to be found, and where 

 its loud voice is to be heard at intervals above the 

 incessant din of mingled cries, the croak of legions 

 of frog!", and the hum of insect armies, which fill 



these districts with unceasing and discordant clamour. 

 In size the horned screamer almost equals a turkey, 

 and its voice is extraordinary and startling. Ac- 

 cording to Marcgrave it consists of the syllables 

 rifhou-vyhott. uttered loud, clear, and shrill. Nor is 

 it only for its voice that the screamer is remarkable, 

 but also for the weapons of oft'ence and defence with 

 which it is armed. On the shoulder (as it is termed) 

 of each wing are two large, sharp, and hard spurs, 

 projecting directly forwards, and constituting for- 

 midable instruments. From the top of the head, 

 in the present species, rises a slender pointed 

 horn, three or four inches in length, and gently 

 curved forwards. The use of this appendage to 

 the head is not clear, but there can be no possi- 

 bility of mistaking the use of the shoulder-spurs. 

 Snakes of various size, all rapacious and all to be 

 dreaded, abound in the haunts frequented by the 

 Screamer, and these formidable weaiions enable the 

 bird to defend itself and its young against the assaults 

 of such enemies. If not attacked, the screamer 

 ofTers molestation neither to reptiles nor to birds ; its 

 habits are shy, its manners gentle, and it lives in 

 pairs united lor life. . 



The kamichi wades in quest of the leaves and 

 seeds of aquatic plants, on which it feeds, and for 

 which its muscular gizzard is adapted, though some 

 have asserted that reptiles constitute its food. The 

 flight of the horned screamer, as might be expected 

 from the length and expanse of its wings, is strong 

 and sweeping; on the ground it walks with its head 

 elevated, and with an air of pride, insomuch that 

 many of the older writers regarded it as an aquatic 

 kind of eagle. It is said to build its nest on the 

 ground at the foot of a tree, and to lay two eggs, 

 like those of the goose. The general colour of this 

 species is glossy blackish brown, the under parts 

 white. The head and upper part of the neck are 

 covered with downy feathers of a blackish colour 

 interspersed with white. 



1886, 1887. — The Crested Screamer 



(Palamcdea chavarid). Parra Chavaria, Linn. ; 

 Chauna Chavaria, Illiger; the Chaia or Chaja of 

 Azara. 



This species is a recluse bird haunting the banks 

 of the rivers and swamps of Paraguay and Brazil. 

 It lives singly or in pairs, but is sometimes seen in 

 flocks. It does not swim, but wades in quest of 

 aquatic plants, on which it feeds. Azara observes 

 that he has seen Chajas brought up from the nest in 

 various houses in the country, and that they were as 

 domesticated as the poultry. They are very cou- 

 rageous, and will drive oft' a vulture. The same 

 writer also informs us that the chaja perches on the 

 loftiest trees ; on the ground it walks with the body 

 horizontal, the head and neck raised vertically, the 

 beak being rather kept down. Its cry is loud and 

 shrill, and uttered not only during the day, but the 

 night also: that of the male is represented by the 

 word chaja; that of the female, c/!«/W( ,■ and they 

 respond to each other's call. The wings are armed 

 with double spurs; but, except in seU'-delence, it is 

 gentle and quiet. The chaja flies well, and often 

 wheels around in vast circles till out of sight. 



August is the breeding-season of this species ; the 

 female lays two eggs, and the young, while yet 

 covered with down, follow their parents in the same 

 manner as do the young of the plover and lapwing. 

 The nest is spacious, and is constructed oi' twigs and 

 sticks, and placed, according to some, on bushes and 

 low trees surrounded by water; or, according to 

 other.s, among the reeds and tall herbage which 

 grow in the midst of the morass. 



As in the former species, the limbs are naked 

 above the joint, and are covered with hexagonal 

 scales ; the middle toe is united to the outermost by 

 a web extending as far as the first joint; the claws 

 are Jong, sharp, and scooped out bene,ith. The 

 head is small and crested ; the eyes encircled by a 

 naked skin, of a blood-red colour. The legs and 

 foes are rose-pink ; the claws black ; head and 

 upper part of the neck downy, the l.-xtter encircled 

 with a black collar ; general plumage lead-colour 

 and blackish, with a spot of white at the bend of the 

 wing, and another at the base of some of the greater 

 quills. Length three inches. 



We are not aware that living specimens of either 

 species have been ever brought to our island, but 

 we do not apprehend that there would be much 

 difficulty in the accomplishment of their safe trans- 

 portation. Fig. 188G represents an Adult Chaja, 

 accompanied by its young, just hatched, and still 

 clad in down. 



1888.— The ^ariama 

 {Dicholophus cristalim. 111.). Palamedea cristata, 

 Gmelin : Saria of the Guaranis ; Seriema of the 

 native Brazilians. 



It is perhaps between the Screamers and the 

 Trumpeter (Psophia) and the Cranes that we must 

 place this remarkable bird, which inhabits the vast 

 solitary mountain plains .surrounded by forests which 



extend over so large a portion of Brazil, and where 

 its loud sonorous voice breaks the silence of the 

 desert. It runs with astonishing swiUness, trusting 

 to its speed, and not its wings, for safety. Shy, re- 

 cluse, and wary, the 9ariama stalks along on the 

 watch against surprise ; its eye instantly marks the 

 distant intruder, and it prepares for flight. Those 

 who have had the best opportunities of observing 

 these birds state that their capture is a work of 

 great difficulty ; they are huntea on horseback, and, 

 like the ostrich, so rapid is their course, with many 

 turns and windings, that it is not till alter a sharp 

 pursuit that the bird, wearied out, crouches or takes 

 to a bush or tree ; and till this happens, the horse- 

 man in vain seeks to use his lifle or lasso. The 

 Variama is said to feed on reptiles, insects, and 

 perhaps seeds. It flies badly, and rarely takes wine. 

 Wild as this bird is in its' natural condition, it la 

 easily domesticated, and will live sociably with the 

 other tenants of the poultry-yard. In this state they 

 will eat little pieces of meat, but are said to refuse 

 maize, though it is probable that other kinds of 

 grain may not be disagreeable to them. When 

 thus tamed, they will walk about the hamlet or 

 village where they have been bi ought up, and even 

 return after taking short trips in the fields, like the 

 poultry. The flesh is described as very good food ; 

 It IS, however, seldom eaten by the Brazilians. 



Its nest is composed of dry sticks and branches, 

 covered with cow-ilung, and placed upon a low or 

 a moderately high tree. The eggs aie generally 

 two in number, and white. 



The 9ariama stands very high on the legs, and the 

 hind-toe is seated high on the tarsus; the space 

 round the eye is naked and bluish ; the head is 

 crested with light feathers, and long loosely-barbed 

 feathers cover the neck ; the upper eyelid is fringed 

 with long lashes. The general colour above is pale 

 umber brown, with fine zigzag markings of a darker 

 tint ; wing-feathers blackish, finely barred with 

 white lines dotted with blackish ; under parts 

 whitish ; bill coral red ; legs orange ; iris yellow. 

 Length thirty-two inches. For an account of the 

 anatomy of this bird see 'Proceeds. Zool. Soc.,' 

 1836, p. 27. 



Family GRUID^ (CRANES). 



In this family the bill is moderate, the legs are long, 

 the wings rounded, with the secondaries elongated 

 into drooping plumes ; in most if not every species 

 the trachea exhibits some peculiarity, and usually 

 is much convoluted before entering the chest. 

 Instead of deriving their sole subsistence from lakes 

 And morasses, the members of this family live in a 

 great measure on vegetable food, and frequent plains, 

 newly-sown lands, and cultivated districts. 



188D. — The Gold-breasted Trumpeter, or 

 Agama 



(Psnphia crepitans). This beautiful bird, which 

 equals a large fowl in bulk, with a much longer 

 neck, and standing much higher on the limbs, is a 

 native of the foiests of tropical America, and the 

 wild uplands, never visiting fens or the borders of 

 lakes or rivei-s. It is gregarious, associating in 

 considerable flocks, and walks and runs with great 

 ease and celerity, but seldom takes wing, and then 

 only rises a few feet above the surface of the ground. 

 It trusts to its speed of limb for safety. In captivity 

 its docility and attachment are remarkable. Ac- 

 cording to M. Monoucour, it " is not only tamed 

 easily, but becomes attached to its benefactor with 

 all the fondness and fidelity of the dog ; and of this 

 disposition it shows the most unequivocal proois. 

 When bred up in the house, it loads its master with 

 caresses, and lollows his motions ; and if it conceives 

 a dislike to persons on account of their foibiddiiig 

 figure, their offensive smell, or of injuries received, 

 it will pursue them sometimes to a considerable 

 distance, biting their legs, and testifying every mark 

 of displeasure. It obeys the voice of its ni.isler, 

 and even answers to the call of all those to whom it 

 bears no grudge. It is fond of caresses, and offers 

 its head and neck to be stroked; and, if once ac- 

 customed to these familiaritief, it becomes trouble- 

 some, and will not be satisfied without continual 

 fondling. It makes its appearance as often as its 

 master sits down to t.ible, and begins with driving out 

 the dogs and cats, and taking possession of the room ; 

 for it is so obstinate and bold, that it never yields, and 

 often, after a tough battle, can put a middle-sized 

 dog to flight. It avoids the bites of its antagonist 

 by rising in the air, and retaliates with violent blows 

 with its bill and nails, aimed chiefly at the eyes ; and 

 after it gains the superiority, it pursues the victory 

 with the utmost rancour, and, if not parted, will 

 destroy the fugitive. By its intercouise with man, 

 its instinct becomes moulded like that of the dog ; 

 and we are assured that it can be trained to tend a 

 flock of sheep. It even shows a degree of jealousv 

 of its rivals ; for, when at table, it bites fiercely the 

 naked legs of the negroes and other domestics who 

 come near its master." 



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