558 



A HISTORY OF 



nearly of the shape and size of the ordinary 

 crane, with long legs and a long neck, like 

 others of the kind ; but the bill is shorter, and 

 the colour of the feathers of a dark greenish 

 gray. The head and throat form the most 

 striking part of this bird's figure. On the 

 head is seen, standing up, a thick round crest. 

 made of bristles, spreading every -way, and 

 resembling rays standing out in different di- 

 rections. The longest of these rays are 

 about three inches and a half, and they are 

 all topped with a kind of black tassels, which 

 give them a beautiful appearance. The sides 

 of the head and cheeks are bare, whitish, and 

 edged with red ; while underneath the throat 

 hangs a kind of bag or wattle, like that of a 

 cock, but not divided into two. To give this 

 odd composition a higher finishing, the eye 

 is large and staring; the pupil black and big. 

 surrounded with a gold-coloured iris, that 

 completes the bird's very singular appearance. 



From such a peculiar figure, we might be 

 led to wish for a minute history of its man- 

 ners; but of these we can give but slight in- 

 formation. This bird comes from the coast 

 of Africa, and the Cape de Verd Islands. As 

 it runs, it stretches out its wings, and goes 

 very swiftly, otherwise its usual motion is very 

 slow. In their domestic state, the) walk very 

 deliberately among other poultry, and suffer 

 themselves to be approached (at least it was 

 so with that I saw) by every spectator. They 

 never roost in houses; but about night, when 

 they are disposed to go to rest, they search 

 out some high wall, on which they perch in 

 ihe manner of a peacock. Indeed, they so 

 much resemble that bird in manners and dis- 

 position, that some have described them by 

 t!;e name of the sea peacock: and Ray has 

 been inclined to rank them in the same fami- 

 ly. But though their voice and roosting be 

 similar, their food, which is entirely upon 

 greens, vegetables, and barley, seems to make 

 some difference. 



In this chapter, of foreign birds of the crane 

 kind, it will '*e proper to mention the Jabiru 

 and the Jabiru Guacu, both natives of Brasil. 

 Of these great birds of the crane kind we 

 know but little, except the general outline of 

 their figure, and the enormous bills which we 

 often see preserved in the cabinets of the cu- 

 rious. The bill of the latter is red, and thir- 



teen inches long ; the bill of the former is 

 black, and is found to be eleven. Neither of 

 them, however, are of a size proportioned to 

 their immoderate length of bill. The jabiru 

 guacu is not above the size of a common stork, 

 while the jabiru with the smallest bill exceeds 

 the size of a swan. They are both covered 

 with white feathers, except the head and 

 neck, that are naked ; and their principal dif- 

 ference is in the size of the body and the 

 make of the bill; the lower chap of the 

 jabiru guacu being broad, and bending up- 

 wards. 



A bird still more extraordinary may be add- 

 ed to this class, called the anhima, and, like 

 the two former, a native of Brasil. This is a 

 water-fowl of the rapacious kind, and bigger 

 than a swan. The head, which is small for 

 the size of the body, bears a black bill, which 

 is not above two inches long: but what dis- 

 tinguishes it in particular, is a horn growing 

 from the forehead as long as the bill, and 

 bending forward like that of the fabulous uni- 

 corn of the ancients. This horn is not much 

 thicker than a crow-quill, as round as if it 

 were turned in a lathe, and of an ivory colour. 

 But this is not the only instrument of battle 

 this formidable bird carries; it seems to be 

 armed at all points; for at the fore-part of 

 each wing, at the second joint, spring two 

 straight triangular spurs, about as thick as 

 one's little finger: the foremost of these goads 

 or spurs is above an inch long; the hinder is 

 shorter, and both of a dusky colour. The 

 claws also are long and sharp; the colour is 

 black and white ; and they cry terriby loud, 

 sounding something like Vyhoo, Vyhoo. They 

 are never found alone, but always in pairs: 

 the cock and hen prowl together; and their 

 fidelity is said to be such, that when one dies, 

 the other never departs from the carcass, but 

 dies with its companion. It makes its nest of 

 clay, near the bodies of trees, upon the 

 ground, of the shape of an oven. 



One bird more may be subjoined to this 

 class, not for the oddity of its figure, but the 

 peculiarity of its manners. It is vulgarly call- 

 ed by our sailors the buffoon bird, and by the 

 French the demoiselle or lady. The same qua- 

 lities have procured it these different appel- 

 lations from twi. nalions, who, on more occa- 

 sions than this, look upon the same objects 



