THE JACANA. 499 



possess ; and the spot can generally be discovered by the 

 number of legs and wings and hard cases of the insects they 

 have caught, and which they have plucked off before eating 

 their victims. 



The little three-toed jacamar possesses a few of the brilliant 

 hues which adorn His brethren. 



The great or broad-billed jacamar is very like a kingfisher. 

 The beak is very broad, while the dilated ridge on the upper 

 mandible is distinctly curved. It feeds very much like the 

 kingfisher, darting down from a branch to secure, with its 

 bill, the active insects as they fly by. It feeds exclusively 

 on them, however, never attempting to obtain food from the 

 waters. 



THE JACANA. 



The light-bodied jacana, supported by its spider-like, widely 

 extended feet, treads over the floating pan-like leaves of the 

 Victoria Regia, and other aquatic plants, without sinking them 

 in any perceptible degree below the surface of the calm pools 

 in which they float. They take up their dwelling on the borders 

 of the remote lakes and igarapes of the Amazonian Valley. 



They are called by the natives oven birds, because fre- 

 quently seen on the pan-shaped leaves of the before-mentioned 

 magnificent lily. 



The common jacana has a black plumage, with a greenish 

 gloss. The legs are very long and slight, as are the toes and 

 claws, especially that of the hind-toe, which is nearly straight. 

 The body is about ten inches long ; and the beak upwards of 

 an inch, and of an orange colour. 



The jacana feeds on aquatic insects and vegetable matter. 

 While feeding it utters a low-sounding cluck, cluck, at short 

 intervals. When flying it throws out its long legs horizon- 



