312 HISTORY OF 



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 re- 

 semble 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 en- 

 tirely upon greens, vegetables, 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 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 pre- 

 served 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 



[* The Jabiru is about the size of a turkey. The bill is long, stout, and 

 of a black colour; the whole plumage is white, except the head, and about 

 two-thirds of the neck, which are bare of feathers and of a blackish colour ; 

 the remainder is also bare, and of a fine red ; on the hind-head are a few 

 greyish feathers ; the legs are strong, of a great length, and covered with 

 black scales ; wings and tail even at the end. This bird is found in all the 

 savannas of Cayenne, Guiana, and other parts of South America. It is mi- 

 gratory and gregarious. It makes its nest in great trees, which grow on the 

 banks of rivers, lays two eggs, and brings up the young in the nest till they 

 can descend to the ground. The colour of the young birds is grey ; the 

 second year it changes to rose-colour, and the third to pure white. They 

 are very wild and voracious, and their food is fish, which they devour in 

 great quantities. The flesh of the young birds is said to be good eating, but 

 that of the old is hard and oily.] 



