574) AVES. 



pressed through its whole length ; greatly curved at the point, and having a 

 large nasal furrow ; head small, covered with down, having a slender flexi- 

 ble horn rising from the forehead, pointing forward ; nostrils lateral, ovate, 

 and open, situated near the middle of the bill ; legs short and thick ; Ihioe 

 toes before, the lateral connected to the middle one by a short membrane ; 

 the hallux formed for resting on the ground j wings large, with a spur on 

 the flexure of the wing. 



Palamedea cornuta. — The Horned Screamer. Plate xl*. fig. 3. Black 

 above and white beneath ; horn on the forehead four inches long, tapering 

 and flexible, inclosed in a sheath ; irides golden-yellow ; bill and legs black ; 

 wings with two strong triangular spurs on the bastards. Two feet four 

 inches long. Inhabits South America. 



Genus b.—CHAVN A.— IHiger. 



Generic Character. — Bill shorter than the head ; convex and somewhat 

 conical, slightly arcuated, and curved at the tip ; lores naked ; nostrils ob- 

 long, pierced through, and situated a little way from the base of the bill j legs 

 long, slender ; toes long, united by membranes ; wings with two retrousse 

 spurs, one on the flexure, and tlie other on the axilla. 



Chauna chavaria. — The Faithful Jacana- Plate xxxv. fig. 3. The whole 

 upper and under parts grayish-white ; middle wing-coverts dark purplish- 

 gray ; the larger coverts, secondaries, and upper quills, umber-brown ; the 

 external quills gray ; throat with a broad belt round its centre ; tail dark- 

 gray, central feather brown ; head furnished with a double crest, feathers 

 situated in the sinciput pendulous ; ophthalmic region orange ; irides orange- 

 yellow ; bill yellow; legs pale rose-colour. About thirty inches long. In- 

 habits America. 



ORDER XII.— CURSORES. 



Bill of mediusn size, or short in some species ; legs long, naked above the 

 knee ; and with two or three anterior toes onlj'. 



Genus 1 STRUTHIO.— iinw^EMs. 



Generic Character. — Bill straight, obtuse, depressed at the point ; which 

 s somewhat rounded and angulated ; mandibles of equal length, flexible, 

 and gape very wide ; nostrils longitudinal, situated near the middle of the 

 bill ; legs very long, strong, and muscular, entirely divested of feathers ; feet 

 with two toes directed forward, connected by a strong membrane at their base, 

 the exterior being much shorter than the interior one, the latter only being 

 furnished with a strong, obtuse, hoof-like claw ; the tibia very fleshy to the 

 knee-joint ; the tarsus with large scales on the front, and reticulated behind, 

 with a distinctly developed heel ; wing short, unsuited for flight, compni-.ed 

 <if long flexible plumes, divested of cohesion between their barbs, and hav- 

 ing a double spur on the axilla. 



Slrulhio camehts.— Aincau Ostrich. Plate xl. fig. 7. Described, vol. iii. 

 P.2K. 



