BIROS. 321 



A bird still more extraordinary may be added to this class, 

 call the anhima, and, like the two former, a native of Brazil. 

 This is a water-fowl of the rapacious kind, and bigger than a 

 su'an. The head, which is small for the size of the body, bears 

 a black bill, which is not above two inches long ; but what dis- 

 inguishes it in particular is a horn growing from the forehead 

 as long as the bill, and bending forward like that of the fabulous 

 unicorn of the ancients. This horn is not much thicker than a 

 crow-quill, as round as if it were turned in a lathe, and of an 

 ivory colour. But this is not the only instrument of battle this 

 formidable bird carries ; it seems to be armed at all points ; for 

 at the fore-part of each wing, at the second joint, spring two 

 straight triangular spurs, about as thick as one's little finger : the 

 foremost of these goads or spurs is above an inch long ; the hinder 

 is shorter, and both of a dusky colour. The claws also are long 

 and sharp ; the colour is black and white ; and they cry terribly 

 loud, sounding something like Vyhoo, Vyhoo. They are never 

 found alone, but always in pairs ; the cock and hen prowl to- 

 gether ; and their fidelity is said to be such, that when one dies, 

 the other never departs from the carcase, but dies with its com- 

 panion. It makes its nest of clay, near the bodies of trees, upon 

 the ground, of the shape of an oven. 



One bird more may be subjoined to this class, not for the 

 oddity of its figure, but the peculiarity of its manners. It is 

 \Tjlgarly called by our sailors the buffoon bird, and by the French 

 the demoiselle, or lady. The same qualities have procured it 

 these diflferent appellations from two nations, who, on more 

 occasions than this, look upon the same objects in very dif- 

 erent lights. The peculiar gestures and contortions of this 

 bird, the proper name of which is the Numidian Crane, are ex- 

 tremely singular ; and the French, who are skilled in the arts 

 of elegant gesticulation, consider all its motions as lady-like and 



tlie female deposits but one or two eggs. Tlio young are fed with fish until 

 they are strong enough to descend from the nest, and are di'fended by tlie 

 p;iri'nt3 with great courage. This nest is said to serve for several brood;'. 



Thejabirus appear to be less wild in Guiana than in Paraguay. Bajon 

 tells us that in 1773 a little negro contrived, by merely concealing his faca 

 with the branch of a tree, to approach a young one that bad almost acquired 

 its full growth, sufficiently near to seize it by the legs and catch it. The 

 flesh of the old is hard and oily ; but that of the young is tender, atul toU-r. 

 ably good bating. 



