THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 71 



all round the world in warm climates. They 

 are not migratory. Perhaps the most familiar 

 is an aberrant species, the Pheasant-tailed 

 Jagana, or Water-pheasant (Hydrophasianus 

 chirurgus), of India and the Oriental region 

 generally, a species with long, mostly white wings, 

 and in the breeding season a long black tail and 

 black underparts. The other Indian species, the 

 Bronze- winged (Metopidius indicus), is also well 

 known ; its body-colour is mostly black when 

 adult. The familiar African form is the Lily- 

 trotter (Phyllopezus africanus), chestnut brown, 

 with white neck. The type of the family (Jacana 

 jacana) is a South American bird, with black 

 head, neck and underparts, mahogany-red back, 

 and greenish-yellow quills. 



KAGU (Rhinochetidce). 



DIAGNOSIS. A ground-bird with rather long bill and 

 nostrils overhung by a scroll-like covering. 



SIZE. About that of a fowl. 



FORM. Bill rather long, strong, with nostrils covered 

 as above, mouth cleft nearly to eye ; feet with 

 long shanks, transversely scaled, no webs at base 

 of front toes, hind-toe short and useless; wings 

 short and rounded ; tail moderate. Head and 

 eyes large. 



PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. Feathering very powdery, 

 pale grey ; primary quills barred boldly with 

 black, brown and white. No sex difference or 

 seasonal change. Young pencilled with brown. 



YOUNG. Downy, the down variegated. 



EGGS. One only ; spotted. 



INCUBATION. Thirty-six days. 



