210 



of freedom^ the male, accompanied by the fe- 

 maJc, rises perpendicularly in the air, constantly 

 singing, and descends in the same manner. The 

 Indians entertain some superstitious opinions re- 

 specting the singing' of this bird, and they employ 

 the feathers of its breast to ornament their head- 

 dresses. 



The rara (phytotoma rara, gen. nov. ) is about 

 the size of a quail, and appears to be the only 

 species of its genus, the passeres of Linna3us. 

 Its bill is thick, conical, straight-pointed, serrated 

 at the edges, and half an inch long, the tongue 

 short and blunt, the pupil of the eye brown, the 

 tail of a middle length and rounded, and upon 

 each foot it has four toes, three before, and one 

 behind, rather shorter ; its general colour is 

 grey, dark upon the back, and lighter upon the 

 belly ; the prime feathers of the wings and the 

 side feathers of the tail are tipped with black. 

 Its note is harsh and broken, and sounds like the 

 two syllables that form its name. It feeds upon 

 grass, which it has a mischievous propensity of 

 })ulling up from the roots, and often, through 

 mere wantonness, a much greater quantity than 

 it eats. On this account the husbandmen are at 

 continual war with it, and the children are re- 

 warded for destroying its eggs. It builds its nest 

 in dark and solitary places upon the highest 

 trees, and, by this means, escapes, in a great 

 leasure, the pursuits of its enemies; but iti^ 



