502 VULTUllES. 



curious Palamedea cornuta — the anhima of the Brazilians, or 

 the horned screamer of Cuvier — called also the kamichi. 

 Startled by the approach of the canoe, up it flies, its harsh 

 screams resemblmg the bray of a jackass — but shriller and 

 louder, if possible — gTeatly disturbing the calm solitude of the 

 place. 



It is the size of a swan, but more nearly resembles a crane. 

 On its head it wears a long, pointed horn, surroimded with 

 small black and white feathers. It has a tail about eiiiiit 

 inches lono' ; its wind's, when folded, reachino- to more than 

 half the length of the tail. They are armed with sharp spines, 

 with which it can inflict a wound on its foes, and which assist 

 it in repelling the attacks of snakes and guarding its young 

 from their rapacity. Unless when attacked, however, it sel- 

 dom uses its weapon of defence. It walks boldly along, as if 

 conscious of its power ; and when on the wing, has a strong 

 and easy flight. 



The head and neck are of a greenish-brown colour, and 

 covered with soft feathers. The back is black, except the 

 upper part, which is brown, with yellow spots ; the whole 

 lower part, with the thighs, of a silveiy white. 



It feeds on grain and aquatic plants, in search of which it 

 wades through the reptile-haunted morasses. 



VULTURES. 



Monarch of the feathered tribes of the forest, the king 

 vulture fears no rival throuohout his wild domain. While the 

 condor has its home on the mountain-tops, the sovereign of 

 the vultures confines himself exclusively to the thickly -wooded 

 reo-ions alono- the banks of the rivers or lacfoons, where he can 

 more readily obtain the carcasses on ^vliich he feeds. 



