502 VULTURES. 



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 resembling the bray of a jackass but shriller and 

 louder, if possible greatly 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, surrounded with 

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

 inches long ; its wings, when folded, reaching 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 silvery, 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 throughout 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 

 regions along the banks of the rivers or lagoons, where he can 

 more readily obtain the carcasses on which he feeds. 



