THE CRANE KIND. 169 



From such a peculiar figure, we might be led to wish for a minute 

 history of its manners ; but of these we can give but slight informa- 

 tion. 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, they 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 the manner of a peacock. Indeed they so 

 much resemble that bird in manners and disposition, that some have 

 described them by the name of the sea-peacock : and Ray has been 

 inclined to rank them in the same family. But though their voice 

 and roosting be similar, their food, which is entirely upon greens, ve- 

 getables, and barley, seems to make some difference. 



In this chapter of foreign birds of the crane kind, it will be proper 

 to mention the Jabiru and the Jabiru Guacu, both natives of Brazil. 

 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 curious. The bill of the latter is 

 red, and thirteen inches long ; the bill of the former is black, and is 

 found to be eleven. Neither of them, however, are of a size propor- 

 tioned 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 princi- 

 pal difference 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 added to this class, called 

 the anhima, and, like the two former, a native of Brazil. 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 distinguishes it in par- 

 ticular is a horn growing from the forehead as long as the bill, and 

 bending forward like that of the fabulous unicorn 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 arm- 

 ed 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 coloui The claws also 

 are long and sharp ; the colour is black and white, and they cry ter- 

 ribly 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 called 



