236 Div. 1. VERTEBRATE ANIMALS.— A VES. Class 2. 



of the preceding group, 'which is traceable in their whole anatomy ; and are nearly allied to certaia 

 Lapwings, which we believe they also resemble in the number and character of their eggs.] 



America produces some species which have a flat naked membrane at the base of the bill, which is reflected over 

 part of the forehead. As 



The Common Jacana (P. jacana, Lin.).— Black, with a rufous mantle ; the primary wing-coverts >?'"een ; and 

 fleshy wattles imder the beak. It is the commonest of those inhabiting the hot climates of ^.merica, and has very 

 sharp spurs. 



Some of the same kind are found in Asia, as 



The Bronzed Jacana (P. tenea). The body Mack, changing to blue and violet, a bronzed-green mantle, blood- 

 red croup and tail, the anterior wing-feathers green, and a white streak behind the eye. Its spurs are small and 

 blunt. 



Others have been discovered in the east in which this membrane does not exist, and which are otherwise 

 remarkable for some singular differences in the proportions of their quill-feathers. As 



The Long-tailed Jacana (P. sinensis). — Brown, with the head, throat, fore-neck, and wing-coverts, white, the 

 hind-neck adorned with silky feathers of a golden-yellow colour, and a small pedicillated appendage to the tips of 

 some of the quill feathers. 



There is one also in the east which is crested, and has no spurs to the wings, (the P. gaUinacea, Tem.). 



The Screamer {Palamedca, Lin.) — 



Resembles the Jacanas, but on a very large scale, by the two stout spurs which it bears on each wing, 

 and by its long toes and strong claws, more particularly that on the hind-toe, which is long and 

 straight as in the Larks ; but its beak, which is slightly cleft, is neither much compressed nor bulging, 

 and its upper mandible is a little arcuated. The legs are reticulated. 



• The species known, the Horned Screamer (P. cornuta), termed in Brazil Anhima, and Camouche in Cayenne, is 

 larger than a Goose, and blackish, with a rufous spot on the shoulder, the top of its head bearing a singular orna- 

 ment, consisting of a long and slender, moveable, horny stem. Its toes have no palmation. This bird inhabits 

 the inundated grounds of South America, and its very loud voice is heard afar off. It is strictly monogamous : is 

 said to pursue reptiles ; but although its stomach is only slightly muscular, it scarcely feeds on anything but 

 aquatic herbage. [The trachea of this bird has an abrupt bony box or enlargement about the middle, somewhat 

 analogous to that of the male Velvet Pochard (Oidemia/usca)}. 



A distinct genus has been made of 



The Chauna {Opistolophus, Vieillot), — 

 WTiich has no horn on the vertex, but the occiput is adorned with a circle of erectible feathers The 

 head and upper part of the neck are only covered with down, and it has a black collar. A singular 

 phenomenon is exhibited by the circumstance of its skin, even that covering its legs, being inflated by 

 the interposition of air between it and the muscles, so that it crackles under the finger. 



It is the Parra cliavaria, Lin. The rest of its plumage is lead-coloured and blackish, with a white spot at the 

 bend of the wing, and another at the base of some of the large primaries. There is a tolerably well-marked palma- 

 ture between its external toes. It feeds principally on aquatic herbage ; and the Indians of Carthagena rear some 

 among their flocks of Geese and Poultry, as they deem it very courageous, and capable of repulsing even a 

 Vulture. 



Near to the Screamers we think should be placed, although they have scarcely any naked space 

 above the tarsal joint, 



The Megapodes {Mcgapodius, Lesson), — 

 A genus recently discovered in New Guinea, with a vaulted beak, a little compressed, the membranous 

 nostrils occupying about half its length, and very stout and elevated tarsi, which are scutellated, the 

 toes (including the hind one) being long, and terminated by claws which are rather flat. They have 

 a short tail, a naked space round the eye, and there is a small tubercle on the carpus, the first and 

 slight vestige of the s])ur of the Screamer. The membrane between their external toes is very slight, 

 while that of the inner is rather larger. They lay disproportionately large eggs for their size. 



One species is crested nearly as in the Chauna {M. Duperreyi, Lesson) : two others have no crest ; and a fourth 

 has scarcely any tail. 



In the tribe wherein the wings are unarmed, Llnnseus comprises, under the genus Fulica, 

 all such as have the bill continued backward into a sort of shield, that covers the forehead ; and 

 those which do not possess this character he arranges in the genus Rallus. 



