t6 T H E C R A N E K I N D. 



Inhabits the borders of the rivers Amazons and Oroonoko, where reptiles 

 abound in prodigious numbers. Here the ftrength of the jabiru is but 

 proportionate to the fize of the ferpents which it has to deftroy ; and its 

 height to the depth in which it has occafion to wade. Its bill is thirteen 

 inches long, three broad at the bafe, black, (harp, cutting, fiat on the 

 fides, hard as horn, flightljr incurvated upward ; the neck ftrong, thick 

 as a man's arm ; the head, and two thirds of the neck, covered with a 

 naked black fkin j on the fummit a few grey hairs. The fkin at the bottom 

 of the neck, four or five inches high, is of a bright red, and forms a large 

 and' handfome collar to the bird, whofe plumage is white. Legs ftrong, 

 covered with black fcales, and partly without feathers ; a fmall mem- 

 brane between the toes : the tail is large, extends not beyond the wings 

 when clofed J inhabits marflies and lakes i its flefh dry, but not bad ;. 

 is very fat in the rainy feafon. 



The Nandapoa is a fmaller jabiru ; refembling the former in its 

 head and neck, but differing by its bill being arched downward, and 

 being only feven inches long. The bird is about equal to the ftork in 

 fize : fummit of its head grey and bare, even bony : eyes black ; ears 

 large, and very open ; wings and tail black j plumage white ; flefti good 

 eating, after taking off the fkin. Called the jabiru^z^^i"^, or large jabiru, 

 where the former is not known. 



THE K A M I C H L 



THE K^AMiCHT, fo called in Guyana; in Brazil, the Anhima; m 

 Amazonia, Cabuitabu, from his cry, (which is fo loud as to terrify into 

 filcnce a,ll birds and reptiles, its neighbours, as it echoes along the waters) ; 

 others exprefs hvyboo vyboo -, is a water-fowl, feeding on ferpents and rep- 

 tiles ; bigger than a fwan. The head, which is fmall for the fize of the 

 body, bears a black bill, which is not above two inches long •, the upper 

 mandible longeft, and a little pointed ; a horn growing from the forehead, 

 three or four inches long, ending in a fharp point, bending forward, 

 fheathed at its bale, thicker than a crow-quill, as round as if it were 

 turned in a lathe, and of an ivory colour : the head and neck frizled, with 

 very little feathers. At the fore part ofeach wing, and at the fecond joint, 

 fpring two. ftraight triangular fpurs, about as thick as one's little finger : 

 the uppermoft of thefe fpurs is the largeft, two inches long, a little bene 

 at the end, and is fneathed at its bafe; the hinder is fhorter, flieathed. 

 alfo J and both of sl dulky colour. The claws alfo are long and fliarp; 



general 



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