552 BIRDS. 



The East produces others, which are tufted, and in which the spur on 

 the wing is deficient, P. galUnacea, Tem. 4G4. 



Palamedea, Lin. 



The Kamichi represent, in many respects, the Jacanas, but on a very 

 large scale, in the two strong spurs of each of their wings, in their long 

 toes and strong nails, that of the thumb in particular, which is long and 

 straight as in the Larks ; but their bill, whose aperture is small, is but 

 slightly compressed, and is not inflated; the upper mandible, also, is 

 tomewhat arcuated. Their legs are reticulated. The species known, 



P. cornuta, L., Enl. 451; Vieill. Gal. 261; Anhima in Brazil; 

 Camouche at Cayenne, Src, is larger than the Goose, blackish, with 

 a red spot on the shoulder, and a singular appendage on the top of 

 the head, consisting of a long, slender, mobile and horny stem. 

 There are no membranes between the toes. This bird is found in 

 the inundated places of South America, and has a very loud cry. 

 They live in pairs with great fidelity. It has been said that it hunts 

 reptiles, but though its stomach is but slightly muscular, it rarely 

 feeds on any thing but aquatic plants and seeds*. 

 A distinct genus has been made of another, 



Chauna-}-, Ulig. 



Parra chavaria, L. ; Chdia of Paraguay, Azzar. ; Col. 219; 

 Vieill. Gal. 267, which has no horn on the vertex, and whose occi- 

 put is ornamented with a circle of erectile feathers. The head and 

 upper part of the neck are only covered with down, and it has a 

 black collar. The rest of its plumage is lead-coloured, and black- 

 ish with a white spot on the tip of the wing, and a second over 

 the base of some of the large quills. The external toes are con- 

 siderably palmated. It chiefly feeds on aquatic plants, and the 

 Indians of Carthagena always keep some of them among their 

 geese and chickens, as it is sufficiently courageous, according to 

 them, to repulse even the Vulture. A singular circumstance at- 

 tending this bird is, that air is every where interposed between 

 the skin and muscles, even on the legs, in such a quantity as 

 causes it to crackle under the finger. 

 Although there is scarcely any part of the leg naked in J 



Megapodius, 



We still think it should be placed near Palamedea. It is a genus lately 

 discovered in New Guinea, in which the bill is arched and slightly com- 

 pressed, the membranous nostrils occupying about the one half; the legs 

 are strong, high, and scutellated ; the thumb and toes long, and termi- 

 nated by large nails somewhat flattened ; the tail is short, the circumfe- 

 rence of the eye partly naked, and there is a small tubercle on the carpus, 



* Bajon., Mem. sur Cayenne, 11, 2S4. 



t Vieillot has changed tliis name into Opistolophus. 



X There is scarcely any part of the leg naked in the Rullus Crex. 



