126 HISTORY OF 



into each other. We are told that when Croesus, king of Lydia, 

 was seated on his throne, adorned with royal magnificence, and 

 all the barbarous pomp of easteni splendour, he asked Solon if 

 he had ever beheld any thing so fine ? The Greek philosopher, 

 no way moved by the objects before him, or taking a pride in his 

 native simplicity, replied, that after having seen the beautiful 

 plumage of the pheasant, he could be astonished at no other 

 finery. 



In fact, nothing can satisfy the eye with a greater variety and 

 richness of ornament than this beautiful creature. The iris of the 

 eye is yellow ; and the eyes themselves are surrounded with a scar- 

 let colour, sprinkled with small specks of black. On the fore-part 

 of the head there arc blackish feathers mixed with u shining piu-ple. 

 The top of the head and the upper part of the neck are tinged 

 with a darkish green, that shines like silk. In some, the top of 

 the head is of a shining blue, and the head itself, as well as the 

 upper part of the neck, appears sometimes blue and sometimes 

 green, as it is difl!erently placed to the eye of the spectator. The 

 feathers of the breast, the shoulders, the middle of the back, and 

 the sides under the wings, have a blackish ground, with edges 

 tinged of an exquisite colour, which appears sometimes black and 

 sometimes purple, according to the difl!erent lights it is placed in ; 

 under the purple there is a transverse streak of gold colour. The 

 tail, from the middle feathei's to the root, is about eighteen inches 

 long ; the legs, the feef, and the toes, are of the colour of horn. 

 There are black spurs on the legs, shorter than those of a cock ; 

 there is a membrane that connects two of the toes together; and 

 the male is much more beautiful than the female. 



This bird, though so beautiful to the eye, is not less delicate 



their existence is passed upon the trees, on the tops of which they perch, 

 aud in which they build their nests. They nre not often found in large bands, 

 but generally pair together witli the strictest constancy. Tlie females lay 

 from two to five eggs. Their flight, like that of most gallinaceous birds, in 

 consequence of the shortness of their wings, is low and heavy ; and in the 

 performance of this action they derive much assistance from their tail, the 

 featliers of which may be expanded in the shape of a fan. 



All the birds of this genus appear to be known in Brazil by the name of 

 Jivcu, pronounced Yacou, derived according to Marcgrave from their note. 

 Tliis, as might be expected from the conformation of their trachea, is ex- 

 tremely loud, insomuch that when a considerable number are collected near 

 the same spot, the very woods, to use the expression of the scientific tra- 

 vellcr just quoted, re-echo with their clamorous cries. 



